Kane County candidate loses group's endorsement

The grassroots group that propelled Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay into politics 16 years ago is backing her opponent in the upcoming Republican primary election.

Stop Taking Our Property's four-member board of directors is endorsing Jim MacRunnels in his campaign to unseat McConnaughay, MacRunnels' campaign announced Monday.

Arguing McConnaughay has strayed from her community activist roots in order to climb the political ladder, the group is supporting MacRunnels, a financial planner and political newcomer from Elburn.

"I think that what happens is elected officials, in an attempt to do well by constituents, get into office and once there find power an aphrodisiac beyond imagination," said activist Dennis Grim, chairman of STOP. "It isn't that they don't think they're doing good. But it's amazing what do-gooders will do with other people's money."

Although Grim acknowledged the group doesn't meet regularly anymore, he said it "does exist in every one of our hearts and minds."

Grim still resides in the same St. Charles neighborhood where McConnaughay lived when she became involved with STOP nearly two decades ago. The group formed to fight the Kane County Forest Preserve District's attempt to condemn parts of their riverfront properties to extend a bicycle path along the Fox River.

McConnaughay, who before her second marriage was known as Karen Steve, was a founding member and spokeswoman for the group. In 1992 she was elected to the county board and went on to represent the board's 14th District until being elected chairman in 2004. She is seeking a second 4-year term.

"I have not been involved with STOP since 1992," McConnaughay said. "After 15 years I don't know much about what's going on in that organization."

The other STOP board members endorsing MacRunnels are Linda Stuart, James Whittington and Leo Denz. Denz unsuccessfully challenged McConnaughay in the 2000 Republican primary.

MacRunnels called the endorsement "very important" for his campaign.

"It shows that the taxpayer is not happy with the way that the current administration is spending their hard-earned money and wants a leader who will look out for their interests," he said.