2 Aurora women seek nomination for Kane County Board
Life experience, particularly in the business world, or youthful energy with more political experience?
Voters face that choice in the primary for the nomination for Kane County Board District 8.
In one corner is Margarita "Maggie" Ferguson of Aurora: age 43, mother and stepmother to four, grandmother of one. She's a real estate broker who has volunteered in schools, for the Aurora Township Democratic Party, her church and Team Illinois Aurora Community.
Facing her is Barbara Hernandez of Aurora: 23, single, assistant chief of staff to state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia and a residential counselor at the Illinois Math and Science Academy.
Whoever is successful will face Republican Linda Pasetti-Olson in November.
The current officeholder, Maria Vazquez of Montgomery, is not seeking election. She was appointed to the seat in 2015 when her husband, Jesse, died.
"I was actually hoping to run in a few years," Ferguson said. But when the opportunity came up, several people encouraged her to seek office now.
"I believe that we need an experienced person to lead our community. I believe I have the experience to make decisions, especially on budgets and land-use decisions," Ferguson said.
Hernandez started her political career by registering voters while she was still a student at East Aurora High School. She also went knocking on doors, including when she ran for precinct committeeman at 18.
"After hearing their (residents') issues, I realized I wanted to be that person to represent them, to be there for them, to express their opinions and voices to the community and to those elected officials," Hernandez said.
She was selected for the Junior Kane County Board in 2014, and serves on the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Board and the Aurora Township Youth Commission.
Both support continuing to not increase the county's portion of the property tax levy.
"The low levy attracts people and businesses. We want our community to grow," Ferguson said.
"Families at the moment are struggling to pay bills, to pay for education, just catching up on what they need to do," Hernandez said.
Ferguson is especially looking forward to serving on the forest preserve commission, she said. When asked what issues are important to her, open space was on the list, as sell as public safety, health issues, roads and economic development. She supports the current proposal to install a cross-country racing facility at Settler's Hill, the former landfill near Geneva, as long as concerns about potential exposure to hazardous material are addressed.
Hernandez, who lives near East Aurora High, said that in speaking with young people, they are concerned about their education, their safety and employment. She suggested the county could conduct a "youth summit" to address those issues, plus substance abuse - and to do it countywide, not just in Aurora.
District 8 covers parts of Montgomery and Aurora.