15 candidates trying for 5 seats on Elgin city council

Among the numerous contested races in the Fox Valley, none sparked as many candidates’ interest as the race for seats on the Elgin City Council.

Thirteen candidates are running for four 4-year seats in Elgin, while two candidates — Toby Shaw and Craig Dresang — are running for one 2-year seat. The 13 candidates are incumbents Robert Gilliam, John Prigge and Richard Dunne and challengers Rosemarie Kahn, Carol Rauschenberger, Jerri McCue, Terry Gavin, Grace Richard, Steven Knight, Cody Holt, Mitchell Esterino, Tom Armstrong and Andrew Cuming.

In South Elgin, incumbent Bill DiFulvio is running as a write-in candidate after he was knocked off the ballot by a challenge. Also running for three open seats are incumbents John Sweet and Scott Richmond and challengers Jennifer Barconi and Robert Sauceda.

In the Grafton Township supervisor race, Republican Pam Fender will take on James Kearns, an independent, in a race to replace current Supervisor Linda Moore, who lost in the Republican primary. Eight candidates are running for four trustee seats on the township board. Republican candidates are David Moore, Robert Wagner, Carol Williams and incumbent Betty Zirk. Independent candidates are Marcella “Marci” Gordon, Robert Holtorf, Tamara Lueth and Dan Ziller Jr.

Algonquin voters will have a choice of three longtime trustees and one political newcomer in a race for three 4-year terms. Trustees Jerry Glogowski, Brian Dianis and Robert Smith are seeking re-election against Richard Flynn.

In Huntley, four candidates are jockeying for three open seats. Jayant “Jay” Kadakia, who was on the board from 2007 to 2011 before a failed re-election bid, is running against Ronda Goldman, JR Westberg and John Piwko, the lone incumbent.

Five candidates are running for three 4-year seats on the Carpentersville village board. In the running are Kent Baldwin, Bryan Moore, Virginia “Ginger” Stevens, incumbent Pat Schultz and Kevin Rehberg, who was appointed to the board last fall.

The Lake in the Hills village board has three open seats and four candidates with Kenneth Tentler challenging incumbents Robert Huckins, Denise Barreto and Stephen Harlfinger for the 4-year seats.

East Dundee board incumbents Rob Gorman and Paul VanOstenbridge will face challengers Mark Poynor, Dan Selep and Kirstin Wood for three open seats.

The race for three village trustee seats in West Dundee features just one incumbent — three-term trustee Patrick Hanley — and challengers Darren Parochelli, William Pflanz and Daniel Wilbrandt.

Six people are running for three 4-year seats on the Fox River Grove village board. They are incumbents Suzanne Blohm, Michael Ireland and challengers Tom Anderson, Robert Kandler, Andrew Migdal and Chester Olencheck.

In Hampshire, five candidates are vying for three 4-year seats. Incumbents George Brust and Martin Ebert face Martin Reid Jr., Deborah Mirandi and Connie Von Keudell.

In Pingree Grove, eight candidates — incumbents Steve Wiedmeyer and Ray LaMarca and challengers Bruce Barnes, Lon Czarnecki, Rich Eckert, Joe Nowosielski, Charles Pearson and Patrick Whalen — are running for three open seats.

The Elgin Area School District U-46 race brings six people to a campaign for three 4-year seats. Board President Donna Smith is the only incumbent facing Veronica Noland, Gary Percy, Frank Napolitano, Linda Campos-Moreira and Andrew Giggey.

A culturally diverse field of candidates is vying for two 6-year seats and one 4-year seat on the Elgin Community College board of trustees. For the 6-year term, longtime board member Clare Ollayos is running for re-election against Risé Jones, who was appointed to the board in December, Angela Causey and Elías Palacios. Art Sauceda and Nadia Daley are in the race for the 4-year seat.

A crowded field packs the Cary Elementary District 26 race with two incumbents and six challengers all hoping for one of the four 4-year seats. Floyd Myers and Julie Jette are campaigning for re-election against Bradley Slavik and two other slates of candidates. Josh Howell and Christopher Christensen are running together as are Scott Epstein, Bruce Ritter and Jennifer Crick.

Chris Jenner started out the campaign running for another term on the District 26 board but dropped out to focus on a bid for McHenry County College board of trustees, where a heated race pits two incumbents against a field of challengers for three 6-year seats. Thomas Wilbeck, Molly Walsh, William Scott Alford, Mike Smith, Arne Waltmire, Chris Jenner and Erik Sivertsen will take on incumbents Carol Larson and Barbara Walters.

Stephen Pickering is the lone incumbent running for re-election to the school board in Fox River Grove Elementary District 3. Patrick Riley, Timothy Hatfield, Patrick Wall and Michael Olencheck also will be on the ballot for four open seats.

In Burlington Central School District 301, Jeff Gorman is running for re-election against a field of four challengers hoping for one of three 4-year seats. Maggie Perry, Rick Pryor, Jeffrey Kellenberger and Duane Schmitt round out the race.

Four candidates are running for three open seats on the Gail Borden Public Library board. Incumbents Susan Moylan and Randy Hopp will face challengers Elizabeth Kruger and Patricia Harkin.

Polls are open until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Ÿ Daily Herald staff writers Lenore Adkins and Elena Ferrarin contributed to this story.

Find your sample ballot, polling places

Cook County:<a href="http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections/voterprofile/Pages/default.aspx">www.cookcountyclerk.com</a>

DuPage County:<a href=" https://www.dupageco.org/election/">www.dupageco.org/election</a>

Kane County:<a href=" http://www.kanecountyelections.org/">www.kanecountyelections.org</a>

Lake County:<a href="http://countyclerk.lakecountyil.gov">http://countyclerk.lakecountyil.gov </a>

McHenry County: <a href="www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/countyclerk/Pages/Elections.aspx">www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/countyclerk/Pages/Elections.aspx</a>

Will County:<a href=" https://www.thewillcountyclerk.com/connect/site/publicpages/PrecinctFinder.jsp">www.thewillcountyclerk.com</a>