A 'love' of governing vs. new blood in Kane Dist. 17 race

One is known locally for her vast collection of hats.

The other has a favorite quote posted on his Facebook page: "Never never give up."

The race of the Democratic nomination to the Kane County Board's 17th District seat features two very different personalities with different perspectives and a major age and experience gap.

Incumbent Deborah Allan, 60, has held the 17th district seat in Kane County for eight years and says she is running again out of the "pure love" of governing and to bring an ethical balance to the board, which she has accused of withholding the information necessary to make critical budget decisions.

"Again, it's a transparency thing," she said during a Daily Herald endorsement interview.

Challenger Benjamin Bernal, 30, born and raised in Elgin, hopes to unseat Allan and add what he calls "new blood" to the 17th District and the county board.

If he wins the seat, Bernal, an entrepreneur and partner in an insurance company, hopes to bring economic resources back to the 17th district, which covers Elgin's east side.

"People are getting tired of the same thing. There needs to be change - new blood," Bernal said. "(We need) leadership, new, fresh ideas that can energize the people of District 17. That's why I will be a good commissioner."

But Allan says she should stay in office precisely because she doesn't always fall in line with the rest of the board. For example, on Tuesday, Allan voted against a proposal to charge people found guilty of violent or nonviolent crimes a $10 fee to help cover inmates' medical care. The fee would also apply to people sentenced to supervision.

"I spoke against it because I felt it was inappropriate for someone who was never going to be in the jail, to pay for the medical costs covering the jail," Allan said.

Bernal says he has a lot of respect for Allan because she has treated him kindly and has served on the board for an extended period. But the time has come for new representation, he said.

"She's done her thing and I just think a lot of people want change," he said.

The duo will square off at 2 p.m. Sunday in a candidates' forum sponsored by the Elgin Area League of Women Voters at the Gail Borden Public Library. For more information, call Janet Poyner at (847) 695-7122.