3 not seeking re-election to Kane County Board
Half the Kane County Board will be up for re-election in November 2018, but some early announcements may add to the tenuous ground surrounding the Longmeadow Parkway project.
The 12 county board seats with expiring terms include Republicans Becky Gillam and Maggie Auger, who represent the Dundee/Algonquin portion of the county.
Gillam confirmed last week she would not seek re-election.
Auger did not respond to messages, but numerous county board members said she's indicated she will not seek another term.
That sets the stage for a potential new dynamic for anything having to do with the Longmeadow Parkway.
The project, which will create a new crossing over the Fox River, found a new level of intense opposition as the county moved toward the construction phase.
The pushback from residents near the parkway already fueled the defeat of former board member Joe Haimann by Longmeadow opponent Jarret Sanchez in the last cycle.
Opponents also placed two members on the Algonquin village board.
"I've kind of known for about a year that I wasn't running again," Gillam said. "And it's not about Longmeadow. There's a lot of other reasons."
Gillam pointed to a busy volunteer schedule and a desire for more free time as some of the other reasons.
Longmeadow opponents already have recruited two candidates: Tara Jacobsen and Chris Kious.
So far, Sanchez has only mustered occasional support for his anti-Longmeadow votes from a handful of Democratic colleagues.
Time continues to work against those hoping to stop the project.
The board is on track to sell at least $30 million worth of bonds to fund construction of the bridge next spring. Construction would then begin in the summer.
New board members won't take their seats until December 2018.
With that in mind, opponents are set to revive a lawsuit based on a threat to the endangered rusty patched bumblebee found living in the path of the parkway last year.
A lawsuit citing a negative impact to the bee from the bridge delayed the project last spring.
The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity has now filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Federal Highway Administration and IDOT for failing to prevent harm to the bee.
At least one other county board member won't seek re-election in 2018.
Republican T.R. Smith said he will follow through on his term limit pledge from his first run for office.
His District 9 represents all or parts of Burlington, Hampshire, Pingree Grove, Gilberts and Huntley.
He'll bow out and support Tom Koppie, a Republican precinct committeeman in Rutland Township.
Koppie also served as the township road commissioner in Rutland from 1999 to 2009.