Carlson to leave Kane Co. board early

Kane County Board member Jan Carlson will resign his spot this week to take an appointed position with the Regional Transportation Authority.

"I want to thank you all for these year s of friendship," he told the county board to a standing ovation on Tuesday.

Carlson, an Elburn Republican and 12-year veteran of the board, lost his primary this year to Drew Frasz of LaFox.

Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay said she approached Carlson, who had been chair of the county's transportation committee, about the opening after he had lost the election.

"He has a tremendous amount of knowledge and background in transportation and transit issues, and I think he'll be well-suited for this very important assignment," she said on Tuesday.

Carlson will make $25,000 annually and receive benefits in his new post.

Previously, collar county members made up only two seats on the 13-member RTA board. But with the recent state bailout of the agency, the board of directors was revamped to include 16 seats, with one representative from each of the collar counties.

The new members will likely start their 5-year terms at the group's April 17 meeting.

The agency oversees the operations of the Chicago Transit Authority buses and trains, Metra trains and Pace buses.

McConnaughay said she has 90 days to fill the vacant seat and will consider all applicants for the job.

That includes Frasz, who told McConnaughay on Tuesday that he would be interested in starting the job early.

No Democrat has filed to run against him in the general election.

"I'd love to have a head-start," he said. "Hopefully, that's the way it will go."