Kunkel drops out of November Kane Co. Board race

Kane County Board Member Bonnie Kunkel will not seek another term despite campaigning for a November re-election up to this point.

Original word of Kunkel’s plan began to leak out late last week. Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham confirmed Tuesday that he’d received an email from Kunkel and spoken with her on the phone confirming her decision to be removed from the ballot. The deadline to take a candidate off the ballot is Aug. 12. But Cunningham said he’s awaiting word back from state election officials about what must be done to fill her slot on the ballot if Kane County Democrats decide to find a replacement.

That process is already under way. Precinct committeemen in Kunkel’s Aurora district will be called to a meeting Thursday night to slate a new candidate. Kunkel said she’ll push for Aurora Democratic Precinct Committeeman Brian Pollock to take over her position on the ballot.

Kunkel said her decision to not run again came following a realization that she wanted to dedicate more time to her legal practice.

“I had to decide if I wanted to be a lawyer or a politician,” Kunkel said. “I’m more of a lawyer than a politician. That’s who I am. And I need to start thinking about my retirement someday.”

Kunkel will serve out the remainder of her term before stepping down.

Democrats have long held the District 4 county board seat and fought during the recent redistricting process from its boundaries being redrawn to open the door for a Republican. Beth Goncher, district director for state Rep. Tim Schmitz, is the Republican on the ballot looking to replace Kunkel. Running against a nonincumbent with a shortened campaign may make that effort a bit easier.