Two from Elgin seek Democratic nomination for Kane County Board seat

A former Elgin city planner and a Gail Borden Library trustee are seeking the Democratic nomination for the Kane County Board District 20 seat.

"I had considered it on and off over the years," said Tom Armstrong, 60. He said Cristina Castro, the current District 20 representative, asked him to run. Castro is running for the state Senate.

For Penny Wegman, politics runs in the family. Her mother is Kane County Recorder of Deeds Sandy Wegman. Her father, Larry, has run for Elgin Township trustee, Elgin City Council and Kane County Board. Both are Republicans.

"I've lived here nearly all my life. I am concerned about my taxes and the community I live in, and I want to do something," said Wegman, 39, a financial awareness consultant for DeVry University.

She said government overall is spending at an unaffordable rate. "There is too much relying on the ability to increase a tax levy," Wegman said.

Specific to the county, she cited the 2.5 percent raises given last year to nonelected department heads. "They (salaries) were pretty high to begin with ... it is just more taxpayer money that is not going in the right direction," Wegman said.

She supports continuing to hold the property tax levy flat and perhaps asking for even less.

Wegman is president of the board of trustees of the Kane County Regional Office of Education. That board meets infrequently to rule on requests to annex or disconnect properties from school districts.

Her library seat expires in 2019, and the education seat in 2017.

Armstrong, who retired in 2009, serves on several advisory committees for Elgin, dealing with parks and recreation, bicyclists and pedestrians, and the comprehensive plan. He is president of the Elgin Community Network, which deals with relationships between the city and residents. He also sits on the county's Community Development Commission.

Issues

Armstrong draws a pension from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. County board members are eligible to participate, and the county pays part of the contribution. They can also purchase health insurance as part of the county plan. Armstrong said he would do neither. Wegman said she hasn't decided on pension participation. Board members should not be eligible for the health insurance, Wegman said.

Armstrong supports the proposal to build a facility for cross-country races on the former Settler's Hill landfill near Geneva with a condition: "If it can be managed at no cost to the county," he said. He also would want the amenities to be available to anyone.

Not being familiar with the sport, he said, he does not know how much economic benefit there could be from the facility. But he would expect some, comparing it to what the Elgin Sports Complex does for Elgin.

Wegman said she would have to study the proposal more. If it is built, she is concerned about residents being subject to "double taxation" if they have to pay to use it. Residents do pay to use the forest preserve district's golf courses and campgrounds, but those are special circumstances, Wegman said.

Up to speed?

Armstrong has not attended county board and committee meetings, but he reads their materials on the county's website, he said. He said his former career has made him familiar with the staff, and his volunteer work indicates that he is still very engaged in community affairs. Wegman said she hears presentations about county issues when she attends Elgin Township Democratic committeemen meetings.

Armstrong said the Kane County Democratic Central Committee has paid for yard signs, while Wegman said she did not pursue the support of the committee. She also said she would not vote on any issue that had to do with the recorder of deeds office. She ran against Castro and Jose Sifuentes in the 2012 Democratic primary for the District 20 seat. She also sought to become the Elgin Township assessor. She would keep her library and ROE seats, she said.

Nobody is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat.