Newcomer, two incumbents win in Huntley board race

Newcomer Tim Hoeft and incumbents Harry Leopold and Niko Kanakaris won seats Tuesday in a four-way race for the Huntley village board.

With all precincts in Kane and McHenry counties reporting, unofficial vote totals show Hoeft leading with 912 votes, and Leopold and Kanakaris garnering 891 and 814 votes, respectively. Challenger Darci Chandler received 592 votes.

During the campaign, the candidates shared ideas about growing Huntley's tax base and attracting new businesses to the Route 47 corridor.

Huntley has seen increased interest from hotel developers since completion of the Route 47/Interstate 90 full interchange, and work on the Centegra hospital and Weber Grills' distribution plant began.

Kanakaris, 39, a trustee since 2007, said the village can increase the incentives it already offers companies for relocating to Huntley.

Leopold, 78, who has served on the board for 12 years, said the Route 47/I-90 interchange completion will draw more businesses to that area. He thinks it's time for another special census to determine if the population has surpassed 25,000 residents, so that the village can get home-rule authority, which gives municipalities great taxing and lawmaking powers.

Hoeft, 35, who served on the village zoning board and is a current planning commissioner, supports filling vacant lots and having a movie theater in town.

Chandler, 41, a political newcomer, said the village should bring in corporations looking to expand and work to get a Holiday Inn-style hotel built to attract more companies. She also would like to see a video arcade and bowling alley in town.