Kane County GOP chooses new leader

Kane County Republicans picked a new leader on Wednesday night.

The county's Republican Central Committee elected Kane County Board member Mike Kenyon of South Elgin as its new chairman.

"I'm kind of excited about starting a new slate," he told committee members.

He also said he wanted to work to resurrect the county's Young Republicans group.

Kenyon won a fairly close race over D.J. Tegeler, a local attorney.

Denny Wiggins, who has been chairman for about five years, did not run for re-election.

"I am extremely proud, honored and grateful that this term has been a great success," he told committee members.

Kenyon, who had been the committee's vice chairman, had run the committee for several months while Wiggins took a "leave of absence" to work as a paid consultant for Chris Lauzen's congressional campaign.

Members of the group's executive committee had voted to ask him to step down.

Wiggins said Wednesday that his decision had nothing to do with that, but he wanted to spend more time with his family and grandchildren.

"I was going to retire either way," he said. "I've been doing this a long time."

Republicans thanked Wiggins for his time as chairman on Wednesday.

"We're all indebted to him," said State's Attorney John Barsanti. "We're going to miss him."

The Kane County Democratic Central Committee re-elected its chairman, Mark Guethle, on Wednesday. He ran unopposed.