McHenry County Board District 2 GOP candidates talk about the issues

Would-be voters who say they stay away from the polls because there are no good candidates probably don't live in the McHenry County Board's District 2.

Republicans voting in the Feb. 2 primary will have to choose between a three-term board chairman, a 10-year board veteran, a McHenry County College trustee with a strong financial background, a longtime Crystal Lake city council member looking for a new challenge and a small-business owner who serves on the county's regional school board.

GOP voters will select two to serve as the party's nominees for two seats up for grabs in the November general election.

Among the candidates is Ken Koehler, the board's chairman since 2004. The Crystal Lake resident said he's seeking another term to maintain the fiscal policies that have McHenry County faring better than most in the current economic downturn.

"The solid financial footing McHenry County enjoys is rare in Illinois, and McHenry County serves as a model of good governance that other counties strive to emulate," he said in a Daily Herald questionnaire.

Fellow incumbent Lyn Orphal, chairman of the board's human resources committee, agrees with Koehler's stance on remaining fiscally conservative, and said the county needs to do more to get federal and state revenue, especially for road projects.

"Our county is in dire need to upgrade and create new roads," the Crystal Lake resident said. "Without making our infrastructure more viable we will continue to have a hard time increasing our economic development, which creates more jobs within the county."

Among their challengers are familiar names Donna Kurtz, a McHenry County College trustee, and Ellen Brady-Mueller, a Crystal Lake city council member.

Kurtz said her experience in the world of finance - she currently works as a licensed broker and financial adviser - would add much-needed skills to help the county attract more economic development and jobs.

"I want McHenry County to be a place where people can come and have fantastic careers," she said. "I don't see that now in McHenry County."

Brady-Mueller says the county needs to continue improving its roads, but not always at the expense of residents who live near them.

"Sometimes there's such a lack of regard for people's everyday needs to get to and from their homes," she said.

Sandra DePaul, who serves on the McHenry County Regional Board of School Trustees, said the county board needs more members who will abide by prior zoning and planning decisions.

"It's very important to have board members that value the county's current residents' needs over the desires of developers," she said.