Stare beats Kenyon for GOP nod in Kane County Board District 16

Newcomer Eric Stare appears to have unseated 18-year Kane County Board veteran Michael Kenyon in Tuesday’s GOP primary election in District 16.

Stare received 571 votes to Kenyon’s 385 votes, according to unofficial results.

“It’s awesome,” Stare said of his apparent win. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be the Republican nominee.”

Stare also praised his opponent.

“I am eternally grateful for all of Mike Kenyon’s service and dedication to the community,” Stare said. “He was always somebody I went to for mentorship in the past few years. He always answered the phone when I called. He has always given back to the community.”

Kenyon said he gave Stare credit for working hard to win the primary.

“He took a week off work and went door to door and campaigned hard,” Kenyon said. “I give him credit for that.”

As to having to leave the county board, Kenyon said, “I met a lot of good people by being on that board.”

The two candidates — Kenyon, a farmer from South Elgin, and Stare, a driver for a waste hauler and an Elgin Township Trustee — presented opposite views on paper ballots and Trump.

Stare said he supports a return to hand-counting paper ballots because he did not trust machines. He also affirmed that Trump won in 2020, while Kenyon said Joe Biden was elected.

Stare is expected to face Democrat Ted Penesis in the Nov. 5 general election.