Voters will make choices in Tri-Cities races
The people we elect Tuesday to run our cities, schools, libraries and parks will have tough tasks.
Kaneland, Batavia and Geneva school trustees will have to negotiate new teachers union contracts at a time when property values and state funding are declining. Is the answer to elect seasoned school board members, or would taxpayers be better served by challengers with fresh perspectives?
Aldermen and village trustees take office at the start of a new fiscal year in most towns, trying to provide high-quality service with less money and fewer workers.
The Kane County Forest Preserve District is asking for $30 million to buy land at a price per acre we likely won't see as low again. Will voters be willing to cough up a little more green to keep the county green?
Polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday. This is what is at stake:
Open space
The forest district says the plan would cost the average homeowner between $13.20 and $14.76 annually for the next 20 years. If voters approve the tax increase, the district's land holdings will surpass 21,000 acres. There has been no groundswell of opposition, though some residents in letters to the editor have said now is not the time to ask taxpayers for more money, no matter how small the request nor how affordable prices might be. District President John Hoscheit said now is the time to buy because land is, basically, on sale. What was once $100,000 per acre can be bought for $20,000 or less per acre.
Schools
In Kaneland District 302, six people — including a former principal — seek six seats. If the incumbents lose in the Geneva District 304 race, it will be an all-male board. In Elgin Area School District U-46, which serves 41,000 students, six people are running for four seats, and only two of them are incumbents. They will have six labor contracts to navigate this year, while facing a $40 million operating deficit. Burlington-based Community Unit District 301 candidates have weighed in on the issue of creating grade-level centers in the district to save money. Two incumbents and five challengers are battling for three seats.
Elgin Community College is under the threat of a teachers strike. Five candidates are vying for three seats on the board, and at least one of those elected will be a newcomer.
Municipalities
The area's lone contested president's race pits Campton Hills Village President Patsy Smith against write-in candidate Kristin LeBlanc. LeBlanc had collected signatures on a petition to be on the ballot, but Village Clerk Carolyn Higgins refused to certify the petition, contending LeBlanc didn't have enough signatures and had not filed a required statement of economic interest.
LeBlanc says she wants to serve the people and strengthen the village, not dissolve it. She said she can be more “open-minded” than Smith and hopes to unify the people.
Smith said her experience and continuity are what the village needs.
“The village is still in its infancy. I believe I am the best qualified to see that through,” she said.
Higgins will face write-in candidate Anna Eiermann.
In St. Charles, there's more suspense than most other towns as most of the seats up for re-election are contested.
The 5th Ward 2-year term race may be watched most closely as it pits Maureen Lewis, appointed to the seat by Mayor Don DeWitte, against former mayoral candidate Jotham Stein and former city employee Kim Malay. Stein and Malay have been outspoken critics of development proposals DeWitte has supported.
The 4th Ward race could mark the end of an era if Fermilab employee Steven Gaugel unseats council stalwart Jim Martin.
Both the 2nd and 3rd Ward races are guaranteed to bring a new face to the city council with no incumbent on the ballot. The 3rd Ward features Vanessa Bell-LaSota, Raymond Rogina and L. Michael Henriksen. The 2nd Ward could mark the return of a familiar face if former alderman Art Lemke can beat Rita Anne Payleitner.
Farther south on Route 31, Geneva's most-experienced alderman, the 1st Ward's Charles Brown, faces library board President Esther Barclay and Zac Ploppert, 20. Former school trustee Dean Kilburg faces Becky Hruby to replace Ray Pawlak in the 3rd Ward.
In Batavia, three people are seeking to replace Tom Schmidt as 4th Ward alderman.
In Elburn, five people will vie for three seats on the board.
And in North Aurora, challenger Ron Lau has set his sights on Trustee Mark Guethle, chairman of the Kane County Democratic Party. Laura Curtis, Christopher Sparks, Ryan Lambert and Trustee Robert Strusz are also running.
• For a compilation of candidate profiles and questionnaires and issue stories, go to dailyherald.com/news/politics/election. You'll also find a recap of the Daily Herald's editorial board endorsements online and on Tuesday's editorial page.