Kane County Board delays filling District 2 vacancy

Editor’s note: A previous version gave an incorrect number of people considered for the post.

The Kane County Board Monday refused to appoint someone to fill the vacant District 2 seat.

County board Chairman Corinne Pierog had recommended that Mary Berman of North Aurora, the widow of Dale Berman, be appointed to fill the remainder of his term, through November 2026. Dale Berman died Oct. 2.

Two other people were considered for the position: Kimberley Young and Matt Dingeldein.

Pierog said an ad hoc committee had reviewed the resumes of the applicants. Berman was the lowest-ranked choice.

“All of them are exceptional,” Pierog said.

But Young and Dingeldein are seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat in the March primary, along with Ellen Nottke and Martha Quetsch Davison. Berman is not.

“Essentially, the county board could be seen as endorsing a candidate,” Pierog said.

The appointee could then say they are an incumbent, which might be seen as an advantage, Pierog added.

Board member Michelle Gumz, a Democrat, said Berman had worked alongside her husband throughout his years of public service. Dale Berman served on the Fox Valley Park District board, was a North Aurora village trustee, and served several terms as president of North Aurora.

“I would not support her if she was not qualified,” Gumz said.

Board member Bill Lenert, a Republican, asked for a closed-session discussion of the matter. After the hour-plus closed session, Democrat Jarrett Sanchez moved to table the vote, and the board did so, with just six members voting “no” to the delay.

No date was given for the next vote on the matter.

By law, the board has 60 days from Dale Berman’s death to fill the vacancy. Because he was a Democrat, the replacement must also be a Democrat.

Nottke had applied to fill the position, but was disqualified because she did not vote in the last Democratic primary. She used to be a Republican. Davison also applied, but then withdrew.