District 6 hopefuls ready to take over for 18-year board member
As an 18-year DuPage County Board member begins her final year on the job, potential replacements have started their campaigns by praising her tenure.
Whether they hope to continue Linda Kurzawa's work or adjust their approach depends upon the candidate.
Three Republicans are running in the Feb. 2 primary for a shot at her seat in November. The winner of the three-way GOP race featuring Paul Darrah, Matt Fuesting and Bob Larsen will face Democrat Dave Barry.
District 6 covers the northwest corner of the county, including portions or all of Bartlett, Carol Stream, West Chicago, Winfield, Wheaton, Warrenville, Naperville and Aurora.
"Linda did a great job, but I don't necessarily want to be considered Linda Kurzawa light," said Darrah, director of communications for the DuPage County state's attorney's office. "I will be responsive to the voters. I will be my own person. I believe that's what Linda did, as well."
Kurzawa has been on the board since 1992 and earlier this year said she would not seek re-election.
Darrah said he hopes to win the seat to increase the level of responsiveness for District 6 residents.
"Board members are responsive," he said, "but more can be done."
Fuesting, a West Chicago alderman, said he definitely wants to keep up with Kurzawa's approach.
"I have been very much in keeping with our current board member's spirit of fighting against issues and things that are not in Winfield or District 6's best interests," he said. "There are great similarities in our passion for representing our district and seeing our district go in the right direction."
Larsen, an 18-year military veteran, had high praise for Kurzawa and her work as president of the DuPage County Board of Health.
He said he hopes to continue that work and that his background as an attorney and working with doctors in that capacity will help.
"Public health and safety are very important and I bring an expertise that my opponents do not have," Larsen said.
As for potentially replacing Kurzawa, he said her tenure proved she has earned the public's trust.
"She was someone people trusted and looked to," he said. "She earned a level of trust I hope to bring to the office as well."