Donahue may be a lock for Kane County board's 11th District

Geneva residents who once trusted Mike Donahue as the planning director for their community may now come to know him as the person representing their interests on the Kane County Board.

Robert McConnaughay, who's kept a lock on the District 11 seat for the past 20 years, has officially withdrawn from the race, fulfilling statements he made during his last election bid that his current term would be his last. McConnaughay filed for re-election thinking no one else wanted the job. He walked away when he learned Donahue, a fellow Republican, was interested. There are no other candidates remaining in the race.

Donahue said his interest in the seat is a bit of a re-emergence of his desire to serve in the public sector. He spent six years as Geneva's planning director, concluding in 1999. From there he went into private consulting with local governments on zoning and land use issues. He's been the owner of Midwest Wind Energy for the past six years, earning a Hometown Heros Award from the American Red Cross this year for his work in renewable energy development.

Donahue said he'd like to use that background to serve on the county Energy and Environmental Committee and/or the Development Committee to provide input that matches his expertise.

Donahue believes there are several issues key to the future of Geneva residents that the county board will deliberate in the near future. Those include the redevelopment of the old county jail site on Fabyan Parkway, the reuse of the Settler's Hill landfill property and the future use of the old Sixth Street School as a possible new home for the Geneva Public Library.

Donahue said he's not going to take being the only candidate in the race now as a reason to slack off from his campaign.

"I'm going to be spending my time at this point making all the contacts that one would make in a campaign," Donahue said. "I've got to get myself out there. I think the voters need to know who their likely public officials are. I think I owe it to the position to work for the position and do all the networking and provide information to the constituents of the 11th District."