Field filling up for Kane County races
It looked a little like Black Friday outside the Kane County Clerk’s Office Monday morning as dozens of candidates for the county board and countywide offices turned in their nominating petitions.
“They started forming up around 7:30 today,” said Mark Mossman, director of elections at the Kane County Clerk’s Office. “Once we opened the doors, there were quite a few filers. Most of the individuals filed at 8:30 because they hope to be first on the ballot.”
In Kane County, all 24 county board seats are up for election, and there will be contested races for the countywide offices of chairman, circuit court clerk and coroner.
With incumbent board Chairman Karen McConnaughay running instead for the new 32nd District State Senate seat, the chairman’s race promises to be a heated one.
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and Chris Lauzen, a longtime state senator from Aurora, both filed petitions seeking the GOP nod. For Democrats, former Carpentersville Mayor Bill Sarto turn in his nomination papers today and former St. Charles Mayor Sue Klinkhamer also has declared her intent to run.
Kane County Circuit Court Clerk Deb Seyller also is not seeking another term, prompting Republicans Karin Herwick of North Aurora, Catherine Hurlbut of Elgin and Thomas Hartwell, also of Elgin, to throw their hats into the ring. No Democrat has filed for that seat.
Kane County Coroner Charles West, who faces misconduct charges that he stole a television from the home of a dead Carpentersville man in 2007, also is not seeking re-election. Robert Nicolas Tiballi of Elgin and L. Robert Russell of South Elgin, are running for the GOP nomination for coroner.
Monica Silva of Aurora, who won election last year as an independent, filed as a Democrat Monday for the County Board District 7 seat. She said it was a tough decision, but she identified better with Democrats and learned much working with Republicans as well during the past year.
“I’m still me. I’m still going to be the same person and work with my Republican friends,” said Silva, who also served as a Republican on the Aurora Township Board several years ago. “I represent everyone in my district regardless of their party. It’s most about serving the people. listening to what their needs are. It’s not necessarily the party.”
Switching parties is not an unprecedented move on the county board. Last year, Deborah Allen of Elgin moved from being a Republican to Democrat and still won her seat.
With the county board seats, election officials must flip a coin to decide which seats will have 2-year terms and which will be for 4 years.
The filing period runs through Monday, Dec. 5. A lottery will be held Dec. 6 to determine which candidate will be listed first in the case of two people filing at the same time, Mossman said.
Ÿ Staff writer James Fuller contributed to this report.
Election filings
Heres a look at who filed nominating petitions Monday for candidates for Fox Valley state legislative and countywide races and county board races in Kane County. Filing ends at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 for the March 20, 2012, primary.
State House
43rd House
Democrats: Keith Farnham
49th House
No filings
50th House
Republicans: Kay Hatcher
65th House
Republicans: Tim Schmitz
70th House
Republicans: Robert Pritchard
83rd House
Democrats: Linda Chapa LaVia
84th House
Democrats: Alex Arroyo, Stephanie Kifowit, Ken Maurice
Republican: Patricia Fee
State Senate
22nd Senate
Democrats: Tim Elenz, Michael Noland
26th Senate
No filings
32nd Senate
No filings
33rd Senate
Republicans: Karen McConnaughay, Cliff Surges
42nd Senate
Democrats: Linda Holmes
Countywide offices
Auditor
Republicans: Karl Regnier, Laura C. Wallett, Terry Hunt
Democrats: None
Circuit Court Clerk
Republicans: Karin M. Herwick, Catherine S. Hurlbut, Thomas M. Hartwell
Democrats: None
Coroner
Republicans: Robert Nicolas Bob Tiballi, L. Robert (Rob) Russell
Democrats: Tao Martinez
County Board Chairman
Republicans: Kevin R. Burns, Chris Lauzen
Democrats: Bill Sarto
Recorder
Republicans: Sandy Wegman
Democrats: None
States Attorney (1 seat)
Republicans: Joseph H. McMahon
Democrats: None
County board seats
District 1 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Myrna Molina
District 2 (1 seat)
Republicans: Will Passalaqua, Sal Abbate
Democrats: None
District 3 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Juan Reyna
District 4 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Bonnie Lee Kunkel
District 5 (1 seat)
Republicans: Melisa Taylor
Democrats: None
District 6 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Angie Greviskes, Ron Ford
District 7 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Monica Silva
District 8 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Jesse B. Vazquez
District 9 (1 seat)
Republicans: Thomas (T.R.) Smith
Democrats: None
District 10 (1 seat)
Republicans: Thomas Raleigh Van Cleave, Susan Starrett
Democrats: None
District 11 (1 seat)
Republicans: Michael J. Donahue; Robert L. Janura
Democrats: None
District 12 (1 seat)
Republicans: John J. Hoscheit
Democrats: None
District 13 (1 seat)
Republicans: Philip Lewis
Democrats: None
District 14 (1 seat)
Republicans: Theresa Wrzala, Mark Davoust
Democrats: Nadia BlancDaley
District 15 (1 seat)
Republicans: Barbara R. Wojnicki
Democrats: None
District 16 (1 seat)
Republicans: Robert Sauceda, Michael J. Kenyon
Democrats: Jennifer Barconi
District 17 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Deborah Allen
District 18 (1 seat)
Republicans: Andrew E. Drew Frasz
Democrats: None
District 19 (1 seat)
Republicans: Victor LaPorte, Kurt Robert Kojzarek
Democrats: None
District 20 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Christina Castro
District 21 (1 seat)
Republicans: Rebecca Gillam, Lee Barrett
Democrats: Darren Parocelli
District 22 (1 seat)
Republicans: Douglas J. Scheflow, Debbie Miller
Democrats: Bob Getz
District 23 (1 seat)
Republicans: Margaret Maggie Auger
Democrats: None
District 24 (1 seat)
Republicans: None
Democrats: Joseph Haimann