Incumbent and predecessor square off in District 21

John Fahy's signature may have sealed a number of plum grants and deals for his constituents in the Kane County Board's 21st District, but the man he replaced says much of the work was in motion before Fahy took his seat on the board.

Now predecessor Lee Barrett wants to regain that seat, first by beating Fahy in the Feb. 2 Republican primary.

Barrett, 72, of East Dundee, said during his 1998 to 2006 run on the county board he played an integral role in the land acquisition for the Schweitzer Woods dog park, fought the state to widen Route 72 and shored up about $2.5 million for the Fox River Stabilization Project.

"I set up a lot of the groundwork for the work that John has accomplished," Barrett said in a candidate interview with the Daily Herald.

Barrett opted against seeking a third board term in 2006, and instead ran unsuccessfully for state senator. Now he says he is ready to take back the reins in District 21, which covers parts of Carpentersville, East Dundee and West Dundee.

"John has had time to drive," Barrett said. "I want to drive for a while."

But Fahy, 48, said his work bringing county dollars back to Dundee Township for projects including the purchase of the Brunner property in Carpentersville, safety improvements at the intersection of Route 72 and Randall Road and grant money for the Depot in East Dundee, are reasons to elect him for a second term.

Fahy said he was able to complete projects in four years that his predecessor was unable to finish in eight.

"For a long time, we were a donor township," the West Dundee resident said. "We spent a lot of money in Geneva, but we didn't get it back. We are starting to get our fair share in the northern end of the county. It's starting to come our way."

The winner of the GOP nomination is slated to face Democrat Joseph Haimann in the November general election.