Jobs top issue in DuPage Dist. 3 county board race
An environmental consultant and a former Downers Grove mayor will face off in the Nov. 2 general election for a Dist. 3 seat on the DuPage County Board.
Karol Sole, a Westmont Democrat with a background in engineering, is making her second run for the board. She said she would "provide a different perspective than the multitude of lawyers that are on the county board."
Brian Krajewski, an attorney and CPA from Downers Grove, said his years in municipal government and accounting would be an asset.
District 3 covers all or portions of Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Woodridge, Darien, Westmont, Downers Grove, Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, Lemont and Bolingbrook.
The winner of November's showdown replaces incumbent Thomas Bennington, whose term expires at the end of that month.
Both candidates say the No. 1 issue is jobs.
"I will use the experience I gained during my years (as mayor), during which we saw thousands of jobs move into the village," Krajewski said. He cites Sara Lee Corp., ARAMARK Corp., Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ford Motor Credit as examples.
When a business is considering a move, it's important "to meet with the neighbors right off the bat, explain exactly what's coming in and work with them," the 48-year-old Republican said.
Sole, 57, said a "forward-looking and innovative" approach to job creation is important in today's economy.
Programs to train workers for green jobs and the building of factories to produce component parts for solar panels and wind turbines are options, she said.
She calls for more transparency in DuPage County government, including the operations of Choose DuPage, the county's economic development initiative.
"It concerns me that the county board makes so many appointments, but the process is almost secret," she said. Women are "seriously underrepresented" in appointments, "while some people are appointed to multiple boards and commissions."
Krajewski said that while he advocates keeping the activities of Choose DuPage as open as possible, businesses considering relocating don't always want the information to be made public.
If elected, Krajewski said he will work to promote tax cuts for residents and businesses in DuPage County.
Sole acknowledges DuPage County residents pay very high taxes, while pointing out the county's portion of the property tax bill is only 3 percent.
Her approach would be to be mindful of the high taxes "with every vote we take to spend money, with the goal of reducing the taxes over the long term."
Sole served as an elected trustee of Southeastern Community College in Iowa before moving to DuPage County six years ago.
Krajewski's political resume includes his present positions as chairman of the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization and on the board of the DuPage County Republican Central Committee.