Questions over insurance info in Kane County board race

When Kane County Board District 25 Republican challenger Thomas "TR" Smith's broadcast his opponent's "cost to the county" at a recent Daily Herald editorial board meeting with candidates, word got out to party officials.

And officials, in turn, have expressed concern.

"Personally, I'm concerned if there's someone in the county telling people things they don't have a right to know. I'm not sure whose business it is," said Mike Kenyon, chairman of the Kane County GOP.

At the endorsement session, Smith attacked incumbent Robert Kudlicki, a seven-year board member and Hampshire resident, for his use of the county's health insurance.

If he were elected, Smith said, he would not take advantage of the insurance program.

Smith, of Maple Park, claims that in the past year, Kudlicki cost the county more than $31,000 - what he calls "one heck of a compensation."

Just how'd he get that number?

Smith said he calculated Kudlicki's "cost" by adding up Kudlicki's pay, per diem compensation for serving on committees, and business and mileage expenses, all listed on the county Web site. Onto that total of $19,853.52, he added the county's expense of $11,502.72 for having Kudlicki and his wife on its insurance plan.

Smith said he got the insurance cost by asking Kudlicki what plan he'd selected, and making calculations based on a sheet that details insurance plan co-pays and cost to the county for county employees.

Smith declined to name the county employee who'd provided him with the list.

"It's a sheet given to 13,000 county employees," he said.

District 25, in western Kane County, covers Rutland, Burlington, Plato and Virgil townships.