Hurlbut now uncontested in Kane Co, board primary

Unfortunately for Nathan Akemann, Illinois elections don't have a "redo" option.

Akemann this week pulled out of the Republican primary for a seat representing Kane County Board District 19 - one day before would-be opponent Stan Hickrod dropped out of the race himself.

Akemann's misfortune is incumbent Cathy Hurlbut's gain. The departure of Akemann and Hickrod means Hurlbut now faces an uncontested primary in February.

Akemann says he spoke with Hickrod before pulling out of the race on Tuesday. At that time, Akemann says he was under the impression Hickrod would stay in the contest.

"I didn't have the resources to match Stan's in any way, shape or form," Akemann said. "A two-way election I could have won, but I didn't stand a chance in a three-way election."

Akemann was taken by surprise when Hickrod dropped out on Wednesday.

"If I knew he would have withdrawn, I would've stayed in," he said. "I would have given Hurlbut a run for her money."

Hurlbut said she did not ask either candidate to drop out or discuss their decisions beforehand. But she said the developments may help her general election campaign.

"It allows me to work with some other board members who are also running for re-election and to work with (state House candidate) Ruth Munson on her campaign," said Hurlbut, first elected to her seat in 1994. "I would have been doing a lot of walking in cold weather for a short period of time. I'm not disappointed I don't have to do that."

Hickrod, who ran for county coroner as a Democrat in 2008, didn't have much to say about his decision to withdraw.

"I got out for party unity reasons," he said. "There's no story."

Akemann said he thinks there was more to Hickrod's decision than that.

"I'd love to know the real reason," Akemann said. "Right now, there's too many people mad at him."