Castro wants to merge some offices, Wegman wants to observe

The Kane County Board District 20 hopefuls are guaranteed a new board chairman in the next term. As Karen McConnaughay campaigns for a state senate seat, Cristina Castro and Penny Wegman look to the future of the board with a new leader.

Castro, the incumbent Democrat in Elgin’s east side District 20, already has a list of priorities when it comes to working with the new chairman — merging offices to save money in the county budget, for one.

“Constituents are screaming that government is too big,” Castro said. “Other counties are looking at ways to address that by consolidating offices.”

Like Cook County is exploring, Castro said Kane should consider merging the recorder of deeds and clerk’s offices to make the record-keeping duties more centralized and efficient.

Castro also wants to discuss merging the Kane and DuPage regional superintendents positions to combine resources.

Wegman, Castro’s most active challenger in the Democratic primary, said it is more important to see who the new chairman is and find out the direction that person thinks the board should go.

“It’s premature to even express any desires until we know what we have to work with and where that person sees us going,” Wegman said.

Wegman’s key campaign issues are to cut spending, create more fiscal transparency and have responsible county growth. But the Elgin woman said she wants to find out the new chairman’s perspective before putting her own two cents in.

“I want to hear, listen and observe before I make any decisions,” Wegman said.

Castro said she does not want to take a “wait-and-see” approach, arguing instead the chairman candidates are already formulating their own agendas.

“Sometimes by meeting with and them and talking with them, you can also find common ground on things and come up with new ideas to take the county forward,” Castro said.

Jose Sifuentes is also running in the District 20 Democratic primary. He has not responded to requests for comment.