Kane County Board candidates look to future

One is a three-term incumbent, the other a former challenger, but candidates for the Kane County Board District 22 seat have similar reasons for seeking election in November.

Republican incumbent Jackie Tredup, 66, of Elgin and Democratic challenger Ed Rzeppa, 38, of South Elgin, both say well-planned growth is key to tackling traffic problems and overdevelopment.

The district covers southwest Elgin Township.

"Decisions we make today will have an impact on the future generations," Rzeppa said "How can we match growth with how we want to grow? There needs to be a mix of residential, commercial and open space."

Rzeppa ran for the same seat against Tredup in 2004.

Planning for open space also sits high on Tredup's list of priorities.

"A special priority of mine is open space, which is the only guarantee we have to insure that future generations have the same benefits of county-owned land," Tredup said.

But Tredup, who was first elected in 1996, also said that, as the county continues its rapid growth, decisions about transportation and planning are particularly important.

"We need to build bridges that move east and west to ease the suffering and impact from transportation," Tredup said.

Both candidates praised the county's work on the Stearns Road Bridge, which runs approximately from Kane-DuPage County Line to Randall Road.

"The Stearns Road Bridge will give many of us on the west side of the Fox River between Elgin and St. Charles a solid conduit to the east, easing some traffic congestion on Lake Street and North Avenue," Rzeppa said.

Tredup also said the proposed Bolz Road Bridge in northern Kane County is also needed.

"New bridges always present hard choices, how to fund them ..." she said. "I believe that the people that use the roads and bridges most, would be willing to pay for them."