West Dundee will again have new county representative

The Dundee area has seen more turnover in representation on the Kane County Board than any other district in recent years. That trend will continue as first-term Kane County Board member Tim Haley will not seek re-election.

Haley’s full-time job at Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas is relocating from Illinois to Atlanta next year. That will force Haley to spend more time traveling than he currently does.

“It would not be fair to those who elected me for me to run again knowing that my future schedule might interfere with my ability to continue to give the residents of District 21 the full attention and representation that they deserve,” Haley said in a written statement.

Haley came to the board as a freshman last year. Dundee Township Republican Party members chose Haley to replace incumbent John Fahy on the ballot after Fahy chose to devote more time to his fire service career. Haley then defeated Democrat Joseph Haimann in the general election to win the seat.

Haley’s decision not to seek another term seemed like a given in August when West Dundee Village Trustee Becky Gillam entered the race. Gillam is Haley’s sister-in-law. Haley will both endorse and campaign on Gillam’s behalf.

“With her current service on the West Dundee Village Board, and various other community organizations, Becky has the knowledge, the drive and the youthful energy to work for the betterment of the citizens of our district,” Haley said. “She is the perfect candidate for this position, and I believe she will continue our recent tradition of electing excellent and qualified representation on behalf of the citizens of District 21.”

Gillam will have to get through a primary battle first. Former Kane County Board member Lee Barrett will also run for the seat as a Republican.