Candidates debate how to bring jobs to McHenry County

With McHenry County's unemployment rate at 8.3 percent, at least two of the three candidates running for two seats on the county board from District 4 agree they need to do something to bring jobs back to the county.

But they disagree on how to do it.

If elected, Democratic challenger Jeff Thirtyacre says he would establish tax credits for those businesses that hire McHenry County residents, which he says would give them a reason to put the locals to work.

“I drive by factories and I see Wisconsin license plates all the time,” Thirtyacre said. “Why are they not hiring local? Our residents need an equal shake when it comes to competing for open positions.”

But incumbent Republican Peter Merkel, who has been on the board for 10 years, says the county does not have the authority to establish the sorts of tax breaks to which Thirtyacre alludes.

“If there was a way, that would be great, but the government can only do the things that they are authorized to do,” Merkel said.

There are two programs Merkel says are already helping bring jobs back to the county.

The first involves working with the McHenry County Economic Development Commission to find out which companies are coming to the county and linking them to local banks for financing and loans, steering “them in the direction of the community so they can work out the best financial package,” he said.

The county is also helping solve the problem with its program in which it gives short-term loans to small businesses, Merkel said.

The county uses interest from those loans to dole out loans to other small businesses, thus giving them an incentive to stick around, Merkel said.

“It has to be tied to job creation,” Merkel said. “That's the only way to go.”

Incumbent Republican Sandra Fay Salgado did not respond to multiple phone calls soliciting her views.

The county board's fourth district includes Spring Grove, Richmond and Fox Lake.

The election is Tuesday.