Assessor candidates square off Thursday night

For area homeowners, a candidate forum featuring local township assessor candidates might be the most important of all the local political contests on the April 7 ballot. The forum may not be as much about learning who is the better candidate as it is about understanding where to direct your ire for higher property taxes and lower property assessments.

Thursday's forum at the Kane County Government Center will begin with questions from the media, but also will include an opportunity for audience members to ask questions of their own. Tax bills and the assessment process are arguably the most misunderstood taxing mechanism for any homeowner. Especially key will be the impact lower home value assessments have on property tax bills and the government agencies those tax dollars support.

There are also some heated contests for assessor spots in the townships including the St. Charles Township assessors race between incumbent Colleen Lang of the St. Charles Independent Party and Chuck Ingersoll, who is running as an independent. Ingersoll successfully fended off a petition challenge that included arguments by Ken Shepro, known mainly for his role as the attorney for the Kane County Board, that tried to keep Ingersoll from even getting his name on the ballot.

The forum begins at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the government center. The auditorium is one floor below the room where the Kane County Board usually meets.