Elgin-area primary hopefuls have their say at local debates

When you're hosting a forum for candidates running for a county board seat, county treasurer and county sheriff, it's difficult to find an issue that involves all three positions.

At a Sunday forum hosted by the Elgin Area League of Women Voters and the Gail Borden Public Library, however, one issue touched on policy, revenue and public safety: the ever-controversial red-light cameras.

All six of the candidates polled expressed reservations about the devices, which have stalled in Kane County because of an ongoing debate over their effectiveness and which intersections should get them.

Deborah Allan, seeking re-election to her District 17 seat as a Democrat, said, "They're used for revenue. They're used for right turns."

The Republican candidates for county sheriff agreed.

"When you arbitrarily put up red-light cameras - it suggests that they're put up for revenue," sheriff's candidate Rob Russell said.

Russell's primary opponent, Donald Kramer, said, "It is for economic reasons and not necessarily a traffic enforcement tool."

Similarly, Republican treasurer hopeful Bob Kovanic said, "It seems to be the county has put in the cameras for revenue generation rather than safety."

But Kovanic's opponent, incumbent Treasurer David Rickert, and District 17 Democratic hopeful Benjamin Bernal, offered a more nuanced view.

While noting he doesn't support the cameras as a source of revenue, Rickert said there may be some intersections where they are appropriate.

Bernal agreed, saying, "We could use some of the cameras in intersections that are high-traffic."

Five candidates for 16th Circuit judge from Kane County faced off at a later forum at the Gail Borden library. A question about the propriety of campaign contributions from attorneys prompted an interesting exchange between the candidates.

Michael Funkey, a Democrat, brushed aside concerns about contributions, saying, "I'm not for sale. I never have been and I never will be. I don't think it's an issue."

Thomas Patrick Rice, a Republican, portrayed the contributions as a necessary evil. He said, "If guys want to give me money to help me win, I'm going to take it. I'm not independently wealthy. It's a lousy situation, and I admit that."

Leonard J. Wojtecki, a Republican, warned about the influence of elections on the judiciary, saying, "Your judicial branch of the government is getting politicized."

Republican Robert L. Janes asserted his independence, saying most of his contributions from lawyers were no more than $50 and that his campaign is mostly self-financed.

Democrat John G. Dalton went one step further, saying he does not accept contributions from organizations that represent attorneys.

"I'm not going to pretend I wouldn't feel a natural affection for that attorney if he helped me in my campaign," Dalton said, adding that other candidates were "deluding themselves" if they believed they could be impartial in such cases.