Aurora Dems want widow to fill husband's county board seat

Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen is set to make one of the most politically perilous appointments of his tenure next Tuesday when he fills the seat vacated by recently deceased Democrat Jesse Vazquez.

Lauzen indicated last month and again in an interview Tuesday that his selection might go against the wishes of Aurora Democrats.

Aurora Democratic Party Vice Chairman Frank Craig confirmed his party selected Vazquez's widow, Maria, to serve out the 20 months remaining in her husband's term.

There were other candidates who initially expressed an interest, Craig said (including Craig himself), but Maria Vazquez's was "the name that really floated to the top."

Previous county board chairman Karen McConnaughay deferred to the party when unexpected board openings occurred, Craig said. He hopes Lauzen will follow that tradition.

"It would definitely be a slap in our face if he picked someone else," Craig said. "It would create a lot of unnecessary tension, not just at the Aurora level, but at the county level."

Craig knows something about creating tension with Lauzen.

The two squared off in a heated race for the 25th District state Senate seat in 2006.

In announcing the board vacancy in February, Lauzen listed "independence" as one of the top three qualities he will seek in a successor for Vazquez.

On Tuesday, Lauzen acknowledged Maria Vazquez's candidacy, but he wouldn't say if she was one of two finalists he is considering.

Lauzen said he understands the political ramifications of shunning Vazquez's widow.

"This is an important, kind of complex, decision," he said. "There are a whole number of human factors. I know I can't make everybody happy, but I've never had trouble making these decisions. I think that board cohesion is very important moving forward."

Jesse Vazquez was a frequent vocal opponent of Lauzen's initiatives. Democrats interviewed for this report said Maria Vazquez has a more moderate tone in her approach.

She could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

Messages posted on her husband's Facebook page by Maria indicate she is still heavily grieving her loss.

Supporters hosted a successful fundraiser for her and her family Sunday.

But she isn't the only Democrat eyeing the seat.

Kane County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Guethle confirmed Barbara Hernandez, an assistant chief of staff for state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (another Lauzen political rival), also put her name forward for Vazquez's county board seat.

Guethle said he "would be comfortable with a range of candidates."

However, he has no problem with Maria Vazquez being the local party's preferred choice.

"She seems very nice," Guethle said.

"But the decision is really up to Chris Lauzen with the advice and consent of the county board."

It's that last part that might be tricky should Lauzen decide to go against the Aurora Democrats.

While many of the Democratic county board members from the Aurora area have supported most of Lauzen's initiatives, next week's nomination could make them choose between supporting their party or creating a new political grudge with Lauzen and the Republican majority on the county board.

Given that choice, Aurora Democrat and county board member Brian Pollock said he will side with Lauzen.

Pollock said he had no knowledge that Aurora Democrats selected Maria Vazquez to fill the seat.

"If there was a meeting, I wasn't invited," Pollock said. "But it doesn't really matter because the party has no say in this. The statute says it's the (county board) chairman's pick. If he makes a bad choice, he is ultimately accountable to the voters."

Pollock said he isn't supporting or campaigning against anyone who expressed interest in the seat. He awaits Lauzen's choice.

"I guess if that makes me a nominal Democrat, so be it," Pollock said.