2 McHenry County Board incumbents trail GOP primary challengers
Two McHenry County Board members appear to be headed toward defeat in the Republican primary.
Incumbents Brian Sager and Larry Smith were both trailing their respective GOP opponents in unofficial results.
The GOP enjoys a 15-3 supermajority on the county board. One district will have a new member after the fall election, while two more could possibly also have new members if the GOP primary results hold. Election results are unofficial until the canvass on April 6.
District 7
In District 7, based in central McHenry County, incumbent Republican Brian Sager of Woodstock is trailing his primary challenger, former county board member Jeff Schwartz of McHenry.
With all precincts reporting, Schwartz has 920, or just under 58% of the vote, to Sager’s 675, or just over 42% of the vote, in unofficial results.
Schwartz was on the county board, but lost in 2022 to Sager and former board member Lou Ness.
The candidates differed on issues, especially taxation.
Schwartz said during a recent candidate forum that officials don’t need to cut services to hold the line on taxes. “You eliminate waste and get better,” he said.
The winner will face Democrat Patrick Shea in November.
District 8
In District 8, covering large portions of northern and western McHenry County, incumbent Republican Larry Smith of Harvard is trailing challenger Marty Mohr of Marengo.
Mohr has 1,386 or just over 60% of the vote, to Smith’s 923 votes, or just under 40%, as of 10:36 p.m. Tuesday. All precincts have reported.
Mohr is the chairman of the Marengo Planning and Zoning Commission and president of the Marengo Park District Board.
The winner will face Democrat Christy “Chris” Stevens in November.
District 9
County board District 9, which covers much of southwestern McHenry County, will have a new county board member after incumbent Michael Skala, a Huntley Republican, decided not to run again.
Former Huntley trustee and restaurant owner Niko Kanakaris was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
In the fall, he will face Christine Hamm, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Hamm was among the organizers of a group that helped take control of the Huntley School District 158 school board in 2025 after being dissatisfied with the direction of that board.