No primary races in Elgin

Elgin voters will have 11 candidates to choose from in next spring's election for three seats on the city council, but they'll only have to go to the polls once since a primary won't be required.

Had 13 or more candidates filed, a primary would have been held in February, per election rules.

And with just two mayoral candidates, there is no need for a primary there, either.

Three more candidates entered the council race on Monday before the 5 p.m. filing deadline.

Shane Nowak, 30, an insurance agent and ER technician, is making his third run for council after losing in crowded fields during the 2007 and 2009 elections.

Nowak said he wants to combat the image of Elgin as a “crime-ridden” city. Then more people will start coming downtown, and businesses will locate here, he said.

“The city hasn't improved in the last two years as I've seen and the city is still doing, I believe, everything wrong,” Nowak said.

Tish Powell, 40, a former city employee, said she would bring better representation to the council as a west-side resident and by being its only female member.

She was laid off as the public works department's recycling and waste management coordinator during the city's second round of layoffs in 2008.

She said her priorities are maintaining a strong infrastructure, city services and neighborhoods, and increasing economic development, particularly in the “green” and manufacturing industries.

David Koldos, 52, a tool and dye worker who now runs his own business, said he's running to improve city response to requests for service. He said he's particularly upset about the city's response to sewage overflow in his and his neighbors' basements during flooding.

“There's very little culpability when it comes down to city government,” Koldos said. “Bottom line, you have to be responsible. Right now there seems to be very little in the way of responsibility in the city of Elgin.”

The other council candidates are Michael Curtin, Manfred Czymmek, Tom McCarthy, Anna Moeller, Mike Robins, Toby Shaw and incumbents John Steffen and Mike Warren.

Also Monday, Councilman Dave Kaptain made his bid to replace Mayor Ed Schock official by filing petitions at the city clerk's office.