Kane County Board candidates get in line
Two Republicans, so far, are vying for the chance to take on Democratic Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez.
Two others are trying to unseat fellow party member Barb Wojnicki for her District 15 Kane County Board seat.
Monday was the first day established political party candidates could file petitions to get on the Feb. 2 primary ballot. Filing ends Nov. 2.
Wojnicki will face Campton Hills Trustee Al Lenkaitis Jr. and Susan Secondi.
On the Democratic side, Kay Catlin of St. Charles filed for the District 15 seat.
Lenkaitis said he sees the county board election as a chance to "get involved a little more" with local government. He would step down from his current position if elected to the county board.
"I'm trying to get some youth involved, and a little different opinion on things," the 36-year-old said. "We're a village not having any financial trouble, which is a pretty unique thing for a government right now. I'm pretty proud of that and hoping I can help out with the county."
Lenkaitis, a dairy farmer, said he and the incumbent remain "good friends."
Secondi was the chairman of Campton the Promise, a committee that supported referendum efforts to dissolve the village of Campton Hills. "I think competition is a good thing," Lenkaitis said. "That's the only way you learn anything or move ahead."
Wojnicki believes she has represented her district well. "I've been on the board for three terms. I've served my district with honesty and integrity," consulting constituents about issues and bringing their concerns about things such as water resources and drainage issues to the attention of the board.
"People aren't running against me; they are running for the seat," she said.
Wojnicki isn't the only incumbent facing a challenge: District 7 Democrat Gerry Jones of Aurora is being challenged by Lorena Cundari.
Democrats Jennifer Laesch and Juan Reyna are seeking to fill the District 3 seat being left by Arlene Shoemaker.
Veteran Kane County Board member Jim Mitchell Jr. of North Aurora has decided to seek another term serving District 9, a seat he has held since 1990. Republican Phil Lewis of Geneva filed for re-election to his District 13 seat.
Sheriff
Rob Russell of South Elgin and Donald Kramer of Geneva both filed Monday.
Perez has announced his intent to seek re-election to a second term but had not filed as of midafternoon.
Judges
At least one judicial race could be a two-party affair next fall, as Democrat John Dalton of Elgin has filed for his party's primary. So far, five Republicans have filed for the same race: former Kane County state's attorney David Akemann of Elgin, Associate Judge Leonard Wojtecki, Robert Janes, D.J. Tegeler and Thomas Rice.
Besides being the lone Democrat to file for a judicial seat so far, Dalton is also the first to indicate in campaign material that he is homosexual. Dalton's campaign Facebook page indicates that he is married to a man, and that he has recently attended an event for the Stonewall Democrats organization, a political group concerned about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.
Dalton downplays this. "I don't want to run as the gay candidate," he said. "I don't think that is pertinent."
He hopes voters will consider his 22 years of legal experience, including being a mediation chairman, running a firm and working as in-house counsel for corporations such as Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Kevin T. Busch of Batavia and Fred M. Morelli of Aurora are seeking the Republican nomination to fill a vacancy left by the departure of Judge Peter Grometer. Busch is a judge assigned to the central DUI court at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=331929">Monday's Fox Valley filings<span class="date"> [10/26/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>