Elgin Township hopefuls differ on plenty
Three people with contrasting views hope to be elected April 7 as Elgin Township supervisor.
The incumbent, Republican Annette Miller, was appointed to the post three years ago.
She has two challengers - Democrat Frederick Steffen and Green Party candidate Dan Kairis.
Miller, who started at the township 22 years ago as a case worker, says she has helped ensure the township has a balanced budget.
She said property taxes - amounting to about $48 a year for the owner of a $250,000 home - are spent wisely to help social service agencies, general assistance and emergency assistance for those in danger of losing their homes.
Miller said continuing to provide emergency assistance - such as helping low income families pay utilities - will be paramount in coming years.
"It's almost double this year and it's going to get worse," she said.
Steffen points to his past experience as Elgin's Zoning Board of Appeals chairman and former Elgin Community College trustee.
"I've learned how to listen to people," he said.
Steffen believes the township has excessive administrative costs and could use some of its reserves to further aid people in need.
At the same time, Steffen supports the creation of a special mental health board to help provide services to the mentally ill. This move, which would have to be approved by voters, would raise taxes and spending.
Kairis noted his experience on an Elgin Area U-46 School District strategic planning committee and said he would work to make the township government more transparent, starting with posting more information on the township's Web site.
"Elected officials should be serving the people. The people should not be serving elected officials," he said.
If elected, Kairis is willing to organize forums to gauge whether the township's services could be provided by other agencies and if the people think the township should ultimately be dissolved.
If so, he's willing to put that up for a public vote in a future referendum.
"The people just totally distrust what is going on," he said. "I'm the only one who is willing to vote his job out."