Incumbent Donahue handily wins Republican bid in Kane District 11

Incumbent Kane County Board member Michael Donahue won the Republican nomination for Kane County Board District 11.

The Geneva resident bested fellow Geneva resident Robert Janura. With all precincts reporting, Donahue had 77 percent of the vote. Donahue had 2,073 votes, and Janura had 599.

The winner will face Democrat Martha Hanna, also of Geneva, in November. Hanna was unopposed in her primary bid.

“I’m honored I was supported by my constituents,” Donahue said Tuesday night, and added that he hoped he had gained their confidence during his first term.

Donahue was elected to the board in 2010. He is a former city planner, and owner and executive vice president of Midwest Wind Energy LLC.

Janura has not held elected office, but is an appointed trustee of the Cook County pension fund. He said he is a self-employed engineer. He has worked for Cook County and the Cook County Forest Preserve District, and has lived in Geneva for 15 years.

Both cited fiscal discipline as reasons for running for the office. Janura has suggested that residents of unincorporated Kane County should be charged fees for sheriff’s patrol services, saying it was unfair of city residents to have to pay for them and city taxes for city police services at the same time.

Donahue is a friend of Kevin Burns, who sought the Republican nomination for the Kane County Board chairmanship. Donahue contributed to Burns’ campaign, including paying for two months rent on the campaign RV. But he expects to work well with Burns’ opponent, Chris Lauzen, or whoever wins the Democratic nomination. Donahue said he spoke to Lauzen several months ago about why he was supporting Burns.

“My top priority is to support the incoming administration, whoever it is. I can’t do my job well without cooperating with that leader,” Donahue said.

One of Donahue’s major goals is completing a plan for the redevelopment of the former county jail and the Settlers’ Hill landfill site along Fabyan Parkway in Geneva. He serves on a committee that has proposed building a hotel/conference center there, as well as an outdoor music venue similar to Ravinia, and athletic facilities that could host NCAA collegiate cross-country events.

All county board members are up for election this year, as part of redistricting subsequent to the 2010 Census. It has yet to be determined who will serve two-year terms and who will serve four-year terms.