Challengers give Maine first opposition in a decade

Lincolnshire resident Ann Maine hasn’t faced an opponent since easily being elected to the Lake County Board in 2002. But a decade later and with a redrawn District 21, two candidates in their first runs for public office are challenging her for the Republican nomination.

Maine, who was selected by peers in late 2010 as president of the Lake County Forest Preserve District, said she has accomplished much during her time on the board and still has the spark. County board members double as forest district commissioners.

“There’s still a lot I can offer the residents,” said Maine, 52, a senior lecturer in biology at Lake Forest College. “It’s a job that interests and challenges me.”

The challengers in the March 20 primary election are Douglas Bennett, soon to be 49, a computer consultant from Deerfield and Robert Haraden, 50, a dentist from unincorporated Libertyville.

The winner will face Democrat Arlene Hickory, a retired nurse, from Lake Bluff.

Bennett, a self-described “numbers guy,” said his daily job involves budgets, projects and delivering services at lower costs.

“This is a place where I can make an impact,” he said of his candidacy.

Haraden said he grew up farming in Lake County. He described Lake County as a “growing government entity” and is running as a conservative and wants to limit the size of government.

“I feel the county needs to go in a different direction — not that we’ve done bad,” he said.

Maine said her top issue is for the county and forest district, which account for a total of 10 percent of a typical tax bill, to continue to look for ways to save money and live within their means like households must do.

“That means we must prioritize expenditures and put county funds toward areas where they can do the most good for the greatest number of people,” she noted.

Maine said the county and forest district are always evaluating services and programs and have saved $50 million in employee salaries since 2009. Departments have been reorganized, services shifted and low enrollment programs eliminated as both the county and forest district maintain a top bond rating.

“Our bonds are very attractive to investors,” she said. “We respond to changing conditions.”

Bennett said pension reform was his No. 1 campaign issue. While not a crisis for the county, pension payments could become an issue in the future, according to Bennett.

He said he would investigate whether the county could come to an understanding with unions about replacing the traditional pension system, which could be at risk because of a lack of funding, with a defined contributions plan. Such a switch would require negotiations with unions, Bennett added.

“Here’s a chance, while we still have the money, to make a difference,” he said.

Haraden said building the Route 53 extension and Route 120 bypass were his top issues.

“The county needs to get a voice and not these special interest groups,” he said.

Haraden said the road construction would immediately stimulate the Lake County economy and would lure business and create jobs in the long run. That would increase home values, he added.

District 21 includes Riverwoods, Mettawa, Lincolnshire, Green Oaks, Bannockburn and portions of Deerfield, Gurnee, Lake Forest and Waukegan.