Penny Wegman: 2026 candidate for Kane County treasurer

Bio

Office sought: Kane County treasurer

Party: Democrat

City: Elgin

Age: 49

Previous offices held: Kane County Regional School Board Trustee- President, Gail Borden Library Board Trustee, Kane County Board Member District 20, Kane County Auditor

Q&A

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

I am running for Kane County Treasurer because I believe the office must be independent, politically neutral and worthy of the public’s trust. The Treasurer is entrusted with receiving, safeguarding, investing and distributing public funds. Every decision should give residents confidence that the office is acting fairly and in their best interest.

As Kane County Auditor, I have kept my office independent while still working well with the County Board and other elected officials. I will bring the same approach to the Treasurer’s Office: treat people fairly regardless of politics, give residents information they can understand, safeguard public funds and stay focused on the job the Treasurer is elected to do.

Trust comes from consistent actions. Residents should know why decisions are made and be confident the office is serving them. That is the standard I will bring to the Treasurer’s Office.

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 position and what would your priority be?

My record in Kane County government shows a consistent focus on transparency, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness.

As Auditor, I expanded access to the Online County Checkbook, created Purchase Card reporting, identified policy gaps and worked with the appropriate offices to strengthen procedures, created an internship program, and continually reevaluated how the office operates while staying within budget. My work has been recognized with the 2025 Auditor of the Year award and the International Association of Government Officials’ Innovator of the Year award.

Those changes came from regularly asking a simple question: Can we do this more efficiently, more effectively or in a way that is more useful to the public? When the answer is yes, we make changes.

My priority as Treasurer is to take that same approach to the entire office: modernize where needed, strengthen safeguards over taxpayer dollars and continually improve efficiency and effectiveness.

What special qualifications does a county treasurer need that may not apply to other county offices? What professional qualifications or experiences do you possess that will help ensure your success as treasurer?

There are no specialized professional credentials required by law to serve as Kane County Treasurer. What the office requires is sound judgment, strong oversight and the ability to safeguard public funds while effectively leading an independent county office.

My experience as Kane County Auditor is directly relevant. My job is to examine how work is performed, evaluate internal controls, identify weaknesses, ensure separation of duties and make government information more transparent. I don’t just know how county government is supposed to work. My job is to test whether it actually does.

I also served four years on the Kane County Board, hold an MBA and am a Certified Government Investment Professional.

My record is not built around one accomplishment or one measure of success. I have made improvements in transparency, internal controls, technology, reporting, policy, efficiency and public access, and I keep looking for what needs attention next. A Treasurer is responsible for an entire office, not a single measure of success.

Name one concrete program you’ll create or personnel move you’ll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.

The concrete change I would make is at the leadership level. As Treasurer, I would take responsibility for maintaining productive working relationships with other elected officials and department heads when our responsibilities intersect.

I already do that as Kane County Auditor. Our office sometimes has to deliver difficult findings, point out policy gaps or raise concerns. We can do that without damaging the working relationships needed to address the issue. That has made the Auditor’s Office more effective.

This requires no additional funding and no restructuring of staff. It requires the Treasurer to communicate professionally, even when there is disagreement.

County offices are independent, and we will not always agree. Independence does not require isolation or hostility. Strong leadership means being able to disagree, maintain mutual respect and still get the work done for taxpayers.