McHenry County District 5 hopefuls have different paths to government efficiency
Three candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the March 15 primary for the McHenry County Board District 5 have varied backgrounds and differing views on how each would improve governmental efficiency.
Voters will chose two from the three-person field of incumbent Michael Skala and challengers Joeseph Calomino and Andrew Snarski to advance to the November election.
Skala served 14 years on the Community Consolidated School District 158 school board, including board president, before winning the District 5 board seat in 2012.
Skala, 44, voted last October against putting a question on the March 15 ballot asking residents to weigh in on consolidating the county's 17 townships into eight. Skala said he spoke with proponents and was not convinced there were significant tax savings for residents. He wanted to devote county resources to a study, but it was buried in committee.
Skala prefers to look at ways to save money on a county level, in part by working more with staff members and other governmental agencies.
"It (consolidation) was a political hot potato. They wanted to put it out there because they had the power to do it," Skala said of the county board. "I'm doing the math and it (tax savings) doesn't add up. If you're going to do a township consolidation, you have to work all that out."
Calomino worked with legislators on both sides of the aisle as a liaison in Springfield, fought for greater government transparency and exposed waste of tax dollars while working in the public and private sectors.
"I do feel I am uniquely qualified to fill this position," Calomino said. "We can collectively look at other forms of government (to consolidate) but we should look at ourselves first (to become more efficient)."
Snarski retired 11 months ago and said he became interested in local politics while attending a residents meeting to get information on possible consolidation of townships. He said it was "insulting" at the meeting when he was asked to give input as a resident, but no studies had been prepared on consolidation options, and there was only a large map available.
Snarski wants to improve government efficiency - one idea is to combine ride share services for seniors under one provider - and thinks the township consolidation discussion was politicized by those with ties to township government.
"If the taxpayers didn't want (consolidation), let them decide," Snarski said. "If you don't do the analytics, how can you argue it's the right thing to do?"
Early voting is Feb. 29 to March 14. The two county board seats are for two-year terms.