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Hopp captures Democratic nod in Kane County Board District 22

Randy Hopp defeated Willie Clements in Tuesday's Democratic primary for Kane County Board District 22, according to unofficial election results.

Hopp had 590 votes, or 44.2 percent, while Clements had 490 votes, or 36.7 percent, with all precincts reporting.

Hopp said he'll work toward keeping the county's property tax levy flat, and his top priority is serving on the board's finance committee. Clements said he wants to be an advocate for social services to ensure mental health, meal programs and preschool services don't get funding cuts. Both candidates are Elgin residents.

Voter turnout was 10.47 percent.

The district comprises Elgin's far West side, where both candidates said they wanted to work on easing traffic congestion along Route 20.

The candidates had different opinions, though, on a project to build Longmeadow Parkway, a $135 million, 5.6-mile road that will pass through Algonquin, Carpentersville and Barrington Hills, and will include a four-lane toll bridge over the Fox River.

Even though it might help alleviate congestion in the Algonquin area, the project is financially risky because it assumes revenues from tolls will repay millions in debt taken out for the project, Hopp said.

Clements said he supported the Longmeadow project because it will help relieve traffic gridlock in the area.

Clements said he's "a maybe" regarding plans to redevelop the former Settler's Hill landfill near Geneva. "I like the idea of open space and walking trails, and also that it can generate revenues," he said.

Development on the south and east sides of the property makes sense, but it's unrealistic to think that cross-country events would bring in revenues, Hopp said. The old growth forest on the west portion should remain undisturbed, he said.

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