Democratic Kane County Board hopefuls say they'll push for more open government

A lack of information is a pervasive problem in county politics, according to two Democrats candidates running for the Kane County Board's 17th District seat.

And, they say, they have ideas of how to fix it.

Incumbent Deborah Allan, a frequent opponent of the board's majority, said during a recent Daily Herald endorsement interview that not only has she never been encouraged to learn about the county budget but also, "there's no help coming to you."

Allan says she hopes to initiate a new culture of transparency if re-elected to the board, going a long way toward ensuring everyone on the board has access to accurate information - especially when it comes to the budget.

"You have to sit down together and you have to work this stuff through," said Allan, a two-term incumbent from Elgin.

Allen is set to face fellow Elgin resident Benjamin Bernal in the Feb. 2 primary for their party's nomination to the November general election ballot. The 17th District seat they seek represents Elgin's east side.

Bernal says he would make it his business to stay aggressive in keeping county officials open and accountable. If elected, he says he will be the sort of leader who pushes to get the right answers so he understands issues completely before he casting his vote.

"If there is a problem and I don't know the answer, I'm going to go and find the answer and ask the right questions," Bernal said. "Sometimes it just takes a little bit of being proactive at the end of the day."