Kane County District 18 candidates have different land development philosophies

Longmeadow Parkway opponents and fans of bringing a cross-country course to the former Settler's Hill landfill have clear choices in selecting a representative for Kane County's 18th District.

Republican incumbent Drew Frasz supports both projects, while Democratic challenger Nicolas Jimenez opposes them.

Frasz supports Longmeadow as a project that will facilitate transportation and both economic and population growth. As chairman of the county board's transportation committee, Frasz has pushed through all the engineering and land acquisition for the project.

Longmeadow is a 5.6-mile four-lane roadway starting at Huntley Road, west of Randall Road, and ending at Route 62. It passes through parts of Algonquin, Carpentersville and Barrington Hills, and some unincorporated areas.

Jimenez said he will vote to oppose actual construction of the Longmeadow Parkway. However, if he can't prevent the construction, he will support issuing bonds to pay for the project and a corresponding toll to pay off those bonds.

"I understand all of the benefits of this project," Jimenez said. "My reason for opposing it is that, personally, I think it is an injustice to that small community that Longmeadow is running across."

Similarly, Jimenez sees the proposal to build a cross-country course at the Settler's Hill landfill in Geneva as the unnecessary destruction of public land.

"The preserves are meant to protect and preserve local wildlife," Jimenez said. "I wouldn't want to see any type of facility there. The preserves are meant for hiking, fishing and camping."

In contrast, Frasz said the county has a "responsibility" to use funds collected while the landfill was operating to convert the site into a beneficial facility.

"Redevelopment has to take place," Frasz said. "And that site lends itself more to an active use. For all the local businesses, this is a facility that can be a substantial benefit."

Frasz said he has total faith in the volunteer organization that has stepped forward to run the cross-country operation. And officials will back up that faith with "an ironclad contract" to protect taxpayers.

Jimenez said he puts his faith in the numbers that showed, even with volunteers, it will take many years before the facility can operate in the black or at a break even.