Incumbent Kudlicki loses in Kane County Board Dist. 25 race
Voters selected a newcomer over a two-term incumbent in the Kane County Board District 25 Republican primary.
According to unofficial totals, with all precincts counted, Thomas, "T.R." Smith, of Maple Park, garnered 1,863 votes to 1,447 for Robert Kudlicki of Hampshire.
During the campaign, the two candidates clashed over the issues of county board size and county spending.
Smith, a farm owner, is a former Western Kane County Township GOP chair and a member of the Burlington Park District board.
He has pledged to resign from that post if elected in November.
Kudlicki, a seven-year board member, is a former Hampshire mayor and owner of a cleaning franchise, who is in support of the county insurance, as well as the board's 27-member size.
Smith attacked both the size and pay of the Kane County Board, calling it too large and costly. He has said he will not accept county health insurance for the part-time, $23,000 position if elected.
"Wherever we went, people talked about the same things," Smith said. "They were just upset with the status quo of the county board ... the unnecessary spending."
Kudlicki took defeat in stride. "That's the breaks I guess," he said. "I'm just proud of what I've done for the people of the district. I think history will show that."
District 25, in western Kane County, covers Hampshire, Rutland, Burlington, Plato and Virgil townships.
"I'm not going to change my message at all," Smith said, looking ahead to the November election.
There currently are no challengers for November.
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<li><a href="/news/politics/elections/2010/primary/race/?id=220">More on Kane County Board Dist. 25 race </a></li>
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