Kane County primary ballot is set
The field is set, at least until a successful challenge is made.
Monday was the deadline for candidates in the 2008 primary election to submit their petitions for spots on the Feb. 5 ballot.
Four Republicans and four Democrats are vying to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, a Plano Republican. On the Republican side is Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, state Sen. Chris Lauzen, dairy magnate Jim Oberweis and Michael Dilger, a dark horse from Evanston.
Entertainment promoter Rudy Clai said he will not seek the GOP nomination, saying "the Republican Party in Illinois is in a very bad state of disrepair."
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Considered a long shot, the North Aurora resident said he didn't want to be associated with candidates whose focus is on campaign contributions instead of their constituents.
Facing off on the Democratic side are scientist Bill Foster, two-time candidate John Laesch, attorney Jotham Stein and Geneva resident Joe Serra.
Kane County
The Kane County Board chairman and three county board members will face challengers in the primary. On the GOP side, board critic Jim MacRunnels will challenge Chairman Karen McConnaughay, anti-jail activist Tina Yagla of Geneva will challenge Mark Davoust of St. Charles in District 14, and LaFox activist Drew Frasz will challenge Jan Carlson of Elburn in District 26.
Larry Wegman and Richard Bennett are fighting for the Republican nomination in District 20, located in Elgin. Two Democrats also are competing in District 20: Newcomer Cristina Castro will challenge incumbent Jesus de la Isla.
The winner of the chairman's race will face Democrat Sandy Kaczmarski in the general election.
For county candidates who filed simultaneously last week, a lottery will be held today to determine whose name appears first on the ballot.
There are no primaries slated for other countywide offices. The Republican circuit clerk, recorder of deeds, state's attorney, auditor and coroner face no opposition from within their party.
State legislature
The most crowded local state race is the 50th state House seat, left open by Patricia Reid Lindner, a Sugar Grove Republican who retired this year.
Four Republicans lined up to replace her: Anton Graff and Kay Hatcher of Yorkville, David Richmond of Batavia and Terry Hunt of Big Rock.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Mary Schneider of Batavia.
Incumbent House Rep. Tim Schmitz, a Batavia Republican, will face a primary opponent, and Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, an Aurora Democrat, will face a general election opponent.
Because no Democrat filed for Schmitz's 49th District seat, the winner of the Republican primary between him and Jim Krenz of Carpentersville is almost guaranteed the seat.
Chapa LaVia, the 83rd House District representative, will face off against Republican Joan Solms of Aurora in the general election.
Judicial races
Five Democrats have filed petitions to run for the Aurora subcircuit of the 16th Judicial Court Circuit. They are: Kane County Board member Paul Greviskes; Aurora attorney Herb Hill; Aurora Township Supervisor Jim Murphy; Renee Robinson, a former Kane County state's attorney candidate, and Aurora branch court prosecutor Mark Wade.
Former Associate Judge and attorney Fred Morelli has filed as a Republican. John Rizzuto, an Aurora arbitrator, announced his candidacy but did not file as of late Monday. He could not immediately be reached for comment.
In the Elgin subcircuit, former Kane County State's Attorney David Akemann filed as a Republican as has Patricia Golden, who currently serves as a 16th Judicial Circuit judge and also was the first director of the Kane County Child Advocacy Center. John Noverini, a Kane County board member and former Carpentersville trustee, is the only Democrat who filed.