West Dundee's Mayer will receive Kane County Board appointment

Former West Dundee Trustee John Mayer will be the newest Kane County Board member when he is appointed to fill the seat vacated by John Noverini in the near future.

The Kane County Republican Central Committee mailed out an official letter to Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay on Tuesday naming Mayer as its selection. McConnaughay said Wednesday she'd make the appointment based on the committee's recommendation.

The GOP gets to make the selection because Noverini was a Republican when elected to the board. He became a Democrat only after he was seated. Thus, Republicans make the pick because a Republican was seated by the voters originally.

Gerald Jones, the senior Democrat on the county board, said Republicans rightfully have the appointment and his fellow Democrats will confirm whomever is selected.

Voters may be familiar with Mayer because he ran against Noverini in the Republican primary for the county board seat in a tight race. Noverini vacated his seat after voters made him a judge in November. He switched parties in 2007 because he said he became disenchanted with the Republican party and thought the best way to become a judge was as a Democrat.

Kane County GOP Chairman Mike Kenyon said a total of eight candidates sought the appointment. Two candidates dropped out and the committee whittled the remaining field down to three candidates. West Dundee Trustee Andy Yuscka and Sherry Dobson, a recent candidate for Carpentersville trustee, were the other finalists.

Mayer resigned from his West Dundee trustee position in December 2007 because he felt his duties as deputy fire chief in Hoffman Estates and a return to college left him without enough time to be a trustee.

Mayer did not respond to an interview request Wednesday.

Kenyon said he believes Mayer is an "excellent candidate" who has been active in the party in recent months, indicating he has the time now to do the job.

"The only negative thing you could say about the guy is he dropped off the (West Dundee village) board to get a degree," Kenyon said. "You can't really knock a guy for that."

Board: Nominee gets nod over eight others