Election: Today's hot races in the Fox Valley
Voters head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in municipal, school board, library and park district races. Here's a look at some of the Fox Valley's top contests.
<h3 class="briefHead">Geneva mayor</h3>
Alderman Tom Simonian is trying to prevent Mayor Kevin Burns from a fifth term.
The battle has been bloody. Simonian has accused Burns and a deputy fire chief of using city resources and time to campaign. He filed a lawsuit asking a Kane County judge to make the city's ethics commission reconsider its ruling on his complaint.
The candidates also have clashed over the city's budget, the places for eating tax, whether Geneva is "business-friendly," and whether Burns spends too much time on ceremonial duties, such as attending ribbon cuttings. Aldermen and former aldermen have weighed in, unusual for Geneva campaigns.
<h3 class="briefHead">Carpentersville village president</h3>
Retired Fire Chief John Skillman is challenging two-term incumbent Ed Ritter in the race for Carpentersville village president.
Ritter says the village has made significant progress in areas of economic development and business recruitment during his tenure. Pointing to lower crime rates and a more accountable government, he said he wants to continue the momentum of improving the town's image.
Skillman, a lifelong resident, believes the village needs new ideas and a fresh pair of eyes. He wants to improve the village's relationships with business owners, lower the sales tax and use internal resources instead of hiring outside firms.
<h3 class="briefHead">Batavia mayor</h3>
He's been mayor 36 years. Will Batavia's Jeff Schielke get to serve four more years?
Voters will choose between Schielke - a lifelong Batavian - and 11-year resident Jason Stoops.
The race has been low-key.
<h3 class="briefHead">South Elgin village president</h3>
Incumbent Steve Ward, Trustee Lisa Guess and former Trustee Bill DiFulvio are running for village president in South Elgin.
DiFulvio, who previously served 12 years, said South Elgin needs stronger leadership and an updated downtown development plan.
Guess is serving her fourth term. She wants to curtail expenses and preserve riverfront space.
Ward, elected to the top seat in 2015 after being appointed in November 2013, wants to continue to encourage multifamily housing development along the Fox River. He also touts the village's prudent fiscal policy. Ward had served as trustee since 2001.
<h3 class="briefHead">Elgin City Council</h3>
Seven people are vying for four open seats on the Elgin City Council.
Brandon Yaniz owns a business consulting company downtown and says the city needs to encourage small business growth.
Corey Dixon, serving his second term on the planning and zoning commission, says he wants to focus on economic development, especially for downtown.
Brenda Rodgers, a Realtor, served on the city council from 2003 to 2007 and wants to focus on bringing jobs to Elgin, she says.
Rich Dunne, seeking a third term, says he wants to focus on improving the city's code compliance department.
Terry Gavin, an insurance broker, said he will continue to foster economic development. He was elected in 2013 after serving one term in the '90s.
John Prigge, an auctioneer who is running for a third term, said his focus will be on keeping spending in check.
Carol Rauschenberger, who is vying for a second term, said she wants to help downtown become a more lively.
<h3 class="briefHead">Elgin Area School District U-46</h3>
Five candidates are contending for three 4-year terms.
They are school board President Donna Smith of Hanover Park, trustees Veronica Noland and Cody Holt, both of Elgin, and challengers Melissa Owens of Bartlett and Enoch Essendrop of Elgin.
During the campaign, the candidates debated school choice, charter schools, transgender access policy and racism in the curriculum.
Smith has served on the board since 2001; Noland is an alumna of the district's Hispanic Parent Leadership Institute first elected in 2013; and Holt is a 2010 graduate of Larkin High School completing a 2-year elected term. Owens is chairwoman of the U-46 Citizens' Advisory Council, and Essendrop is a student at Providence Baptist College in Elgin.
<h3 class="briefHead">Kane County Forest Preserve referendum</h3>
Kane County Forest Preserve District officials will ask voters to approve a tax increase to purchase more open space for the fifth time since 1999. Voters approved all four previous ballot questions.
The district would use the additional $50 million to buy about 2,000 acres of open space, mostly adjacent to existing preserves. The funds will also provide for basic capital improvements to preserves, such as parking lots, shelters and restrooms.
Commissioners timed the tax increase question to the retirement of a large portion of the district's existing debt. That means taxpayers will see their tax bills to the district decrease no matter what happens. If voters approve the tax increase, the owner of a $250,000 home will see a tax reduction of $82. If the voters reject the tax hike, the tax savings would jump to $104.
<h3 class="briefHead">Fox River & Countryside Fire referendum</h3>
Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District officials have a question on the ballot that may determine the fate of the district itself. With less than one month of operating reserves, and no cash to replace aging equipment, trustees want taxpayers to nearly double the amount of taxes they pay to the district.
The pending tax increase would pump an additional $2.43 million into district coffers. The owner of a $300,000 home would see a tax hike of about $258 if the increase passes. If it fails, trustees say the district won't go bankrupt, but once the existing equipment fails, it may no longer be able to provide fire and ambulance services. If that happens, the district could be dissolved and folded into neighboring fire protection districts.
<h3 class="briefHead">Geneva library referendum</h3>
Geneva Library District voters get to ask themselves if it is worth paying more in taxes for the next 20 years to build a new, larger library.
Library officials want to move out of the 109-year-old building on James Street and into a facility that could be twice as large, a few blocks to the west. The district is asking for permission to borrow up to $21.8 million.
At current interest rates, officials estimate the owner of a $300,000 house would pay about $100 a year more in taxes to the library each year.
Daily Herald staff writers Elena Ferrarin, James Fuller and Susan Sarkauskas contributed to this story.