More Republicans take leadership roles on Kane County Board

Kane County Board elected officials do the vast majority of their legislative work in committees. As new county board members take their seats, that work will be lead by Republicans a little more than before.

There are now 11 standing committees. Only two will have a Democrat as the chair. Gerald Jones, of Aurora, will retain his leadership of the Public Health Committee. Hollie Kissane, of Carpentersville, will become a chairman for the first time as she ascends to control of the Legislative Committee. The nine remaining committees will all be led by a Republican, including the brand new Energy & Environmental Committee.

Tom Van Cleave, a Batavia Republican, will be the first chairman of Karen McConnaughay's new committee.

"I let the chair look at my abilities and qualities and my willingness to work hard, and she surprised me by assigning me to this new committee," Van Cleave said.

County staff has built a framework for the initial tasks that will fall to Van Cleave's committee. He will meet with staff next week to review the committee's direction and provide his own input.

"The bottom line is over the next 30 years or so we have to make more room for about 200,000 more people moving into this county," Van Cleave said. "One of my primary goals will be to make more preparations for that."

Other notable changes on the committee will see Jim Mitchell, a North Aurora Republican, hand off his leadership of the Judicial and Public Safety Committee to fellow Republican Mike Kenyon. Mitchell assumes leadership of the Administration Committee from Democrat Paul Greviskes, who did not run for re-election. Republican Robert McConnaughay, from Geneva, surrenders his leadership of the Human Services Committee to fellow Republican Mark Davoust. Robert McConnaughay will now chair the Finance Committee as John Noverini has left the board to become a judge. St. Charles Republican Phil Lewis will become a first-time chairman and lead the Public Service Committee.