Clifford Surges: 2026 candidate for Kane County Board District 21

Bio

Office sought: Kane County Board District 21

Party: Republican

City: Gilberts

Age: 63

Previous offices held: Village of Gilberts Trustee, 1997-2001, Kane County Board Dist 21 2018-2022, 2022-2026

Q&A

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

Affordability, Safety, and Community are the key talking points I continue to hear in community forums, townhalls, and door knocking. Focusing on these issues to improve our District and maintain the character of the place we call home is the priority.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you’ve led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

Sometimes change is scary, but our team embraced the need to save man hours and reduce spending by designing and introducing systemic efficiencies such as the new electronic benefits platform and online training programs.

We also brought dynamic savings by moving our $20,000,000+ health insurance plan to a self-managed program reaching our budget and reserve goals.

Supporting and completing Longmeadow Parkway as a non-toll road took a team effort but was the right thing to do and is already reducing congestion.

What initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?

Increasing revenue would simply place an additional burden on taxpayers at a time when affordability is already a serious concern.

The backbone of County government is the services we are required to provide under State law. We already identify those mandated services by department, but we do not consistently take the next step and determine the actual level or scope of service required to remain in compliance. Without that review, programs, staffing, and costs can continue to grow over time without scrutiny.

I have raised this issue many times because I believe the Board needs this information to make informed budget decisions. We should clearly understand what the State requires, the level of service necessary to meet those requirements, and where the County has chosen to provide services beyond the mandated level so we can live within our means.

Is there a specific service or amenity that is lacking in the county? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund it?

The explosive growth in Pingree and Gilberts has shifted the need for services in the North end. Opening the new County Building in Elgin at the edge of Sleepy Hollow was an accomplishment and funded from the Health Department reserves. No bond or loan was used. There is room to expand into community rooms, Sheriff's offices, Clerk and Treasury offices to help balance services without driving down to Geneva or Aurora.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

The County board should be a non-partisan platform. In the two terms I have served, reaching across the aisle has not been an issue. Sure, there are those that will not budge from their ideology. But the majority work to do the right thing for our residents.

What is your stance on county board members' pay? Is it too high, too low, or just right? Would you propose any changes?

I accepted this role to serve our community and voted “NO” to the upcoming increase and would vote to repeal that immediately.

What is the most important issue facing the county in your district and how should it be addressed?

The Randall Road over I90 congestion from Big Timber to Route 72 is paramount along with the arterial roadways of Tyrrell and Galligan.

The intersection at Route 72 and Randall used to lead the way in accidents across Kane County. After several iterative patches, widening, extra lanes, longer signals … it is much safer. However, the growth has now overtaken the design constraints, and we need to finish the overpass and dedicate turn lanes onto I90.

Tyrrell and Galligan have turn lanes and round-abouts planned to improve safety around Gilberts Elementary, however; 5-7 of the project's components were placed on hold for 2027. I will continue to push for their continuation.