Our recommendations for seven Kane County Board races

District 2: Barreiro, PassalaquaIn the Democratic primary for Kane County Board District 2, we endorse Theresa Barreiro. Barreiro, a lifelong Aurora resident and for two years a precinct committeeman, will bring new energy and ideas to the board. She has a good grasp on the challenges facing Kane County. Her opponent is Arthur Velasquez of North Aurora. In the Republican primary, we endorse Will Passalaqua of North Aurora. Passalaqua has concrete ideas on how best to best navigate the issues facing Kane County. In particular, his cautious approach on freezing the tax levy, was refreshing to see. His opponent is Sal Abbate of North Aurora.District 3, Democrat: ReynaDemocratic incumbent Juan Reyna of Aurora deserves to return for another term and gets our endorsement over challenger Jennifer Laesch of Aurora. His work on ethics reform, health and human services issues and issues facing fellow veterans is not only commendable but needed.District 4, Democrat: KunkelIncumbent Bonnie Kunkel of Aurora gets our endorsement over Alexis Cervantes, a Democratic challenger who has told us she is no longer a candidate for that office.District 6, Democrat: FordThe Democratic ballot in District 6 pits two Aurora residents familiar to Kane County voters: incumbent Ron Ford and challenger Angelita Greviskes, the wife of former Kane County Board member Paul Greviskes, an attorney who also chairs the county#146;s Liquor Control Commission. While Mrs. Greviskes offers a good record of community activities and bilingual skills that merit attention, we endorse the work of the incumbent, Ron Ford, who also has a long record of community accomplishments. Ford#146;s compassion and leadership skills on various committees is needed, and he deserves the chance to continueDistrict 10, GOP: Van CleaveThe GOP primary pits incumbent Thomas Van Cleave of Batavia against challenger Susan Starrett of North Aurora. Van Cleave#146;s experience and common-sense financial ideas will help the county get through a prolonged economic downturn. His appointment as vice chairman speaks to the respect he has among other board members. Starrett#146;s business background is substantial, but she lacks Van Cleave#146;s level of knowledge of issues facing the board.District 11, GOP: DonahueMichael Donahue, of Geneva, first elected to the county board in 2010, faces Robert Janura, also of Geneva, in the Republican primary. Donahue is a fiscal conservative who advocates the county maintain a zero-growth budget over the next four years. He recognizes that as the economy improves, home values will continue to lag and that limits the county#146;s tax base. Janura works to administer pensions in Cook County government and says he hasn#146;t been a Republican long #8212; but this race is about ideas, not labels. One idea he has to achieve property tax parity is to charge people in unincorporated areas more for sheriff service than those who fund municipal police departments. District 16, GOP: SaucedaPolitical newcomer Robert Sauceda is challenging incumbent Mike Kenyon for the Republican primary in this district. Sauceda is a well-informed candidate who is in touch with the constituents he hopes to represent, and is in favor of reducing the size of county government even if it means his own seat. Kenyon has served the county well in his two terms on the board, but seems to lack fresh ideas for pointing the county in the right direction. Sauceda is endorsed.