Warren is top dog in Elgin council primary

Elgin voters Tuesday winnowed down the field for a two-year vacant city council seat, eliminating a police officer and president of a neighborhood group from the pack.

As a result, four people - Mike Warren, Emi Morales, Brenda Rodgers and Mike Robins - will advance to the April 7 election and one will emerge victorious.

With all precincts reporting in Kane and Cook counties, unofficial results show Warren was the top finisher with 693 votes, or about 31 percent of ballots cast.

"I've got the right experience, the right leadership and right qualifications to lead the city, but there's still more work ahead," said Warren, who wants to create jobs and preserve core city services. "I'm humbled and proud. We need to inspire people (to vote April 7). This is an important time in Elgin's future."

Rounding out the field were: Morales with 503 votes; Rodgers with 347 votes; and Robins with 334 votes.

Charlene Sligting and Al Fernandez, with 280 and 105 votes, respectively, were eliminated.

The seat was vacated last year after Mike Powers resigned because of a conflict of interest.

Morales wants the council to be more proactive and to reach out to residents via town meetings.

Rodgers said she worked to encourage development and new jobs before being voted off the city council two years ago.

Robins has promised to fight illegal immigration and also wants to reduce the amount of time dogs could be kept on leashes.

"I would like to thank the people's trust in me and I will continue to move forward for them in the future," Robins said.

Fernandez said his experience as a police officer would help him cut waste.

Sligting, president of the Southwest Area Neighbors group advocated for a 311 nonemergency system and pledged to fight overcrowding.

But a 2005 DUI arrest that came up at a candidate forum in early February probably hurt Sligting's chances.

"I take ownership of my past. I can't erase it, however I can only make the future better," she said. "The voters spoke and the top four candidates made it."