Veteran Skala trounces Snow in Huntley Dist. 158

In a fight among incumbents, Mike Skala trounced Larry Snow for the 2-year term on the Huntley Unit District 158 school board, according to unofficial totals.

With all precincts reporting, Skala beat Snow by a more than 2-1 ratio in McHenry County, where most of the district's residents live.

Snow beat Skala in Kane County, where Del Webb's Sun City is located and where many of Snow's supporters live, but it was not enough to overcome the huge McHenry County vote disparity.

Skala's win seemed to validate his strategy to run a positive race stressing his experience in more than a decade on the board.

"I have (had) many, many people comment about how it was refreshing to see someone run a positive campaign," Skala said Tuesday night.

Snow's message of reform and better stewardship of taxpayer dollars did not appear to resonate with voters this time, as it did in 2005 in the wake of a controversial tax increase.

Snow said it was a "privilege" to serve residents the past four years and said he brought financial solutions and accountability to the job.

The race for four, 4-year seats was uncontested. Incumbents Shawn Green and Kim Skaja and newcomers Don Drzal and Paul Troy all won, according to unofficial returns.