Political newcomer takes on longtime trustee for W. Dundee mayor spot

Longtime West Dundee Trustee Andy Yuscka describes himself as a quiet guy who listens first and then speaks. He has been involved with village government for 14 years and has never once missed a board of trustees or liquor commission meeting.

In a race to fill the village president spot for which Larry Keller has decided not to seek re-election, resident Chris Nelson argues it’s his passion that will best serve the community.

Yuscka and Nelson are the lone candidates in the race. Yuscka said he has learned a lot from Keller’s calm demeanor and solid leadership over the years. With three trustee positions up for election and an ongoing search for an appointee to replace Becky Gillam, who resigned to serve on the Kane County Board, Yuscka said he could provide some continuity.

“I would like to lead and promote that stability on the board and be a guide for the future to the new trustees,” Yuscka said.

Nelson is more concerned with the future of the community, seeing the need for aggressive action to save an eroding tax base. But he said he’s not advocating change for change’s sake.

“I’m not looking to be disruptive,” Nelson said. “I’m proud that I can contribute and I think that extra energy is needed for the challenges that we’re going to be facing in the next few years.”

While Yuscka doesn’t see any “gloom and doom” in West Dundee’s future, Nelson emphasized a concern for the need to bring new businesses to the village and increase foot traffic downtown.

The mayoral bid is his first foray into public office but Nelson said public service is something that has always interested him and he has felt a longing to get back into it.

Nelson worked in municipal government in Sycamore, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg early in his career then left for a job with Comcast about 10 years ago. Nelson is the manager of government and regulatory affairs and has been to hundreds of municipal board meetings on behalf of his employer.

Yuscka has worked for Lawrence Foods Inc., in Elk Grove Village for 41 years. He has lived in West Dundee since 1993. Nelson has lived in the village since 2005.