What’s next for Grafton Twp. supervisor?

Grafton Township’s Republican primary marked the end of Supervisor Linda Moore’s tenure, and she has no specific plans for how she’ll spend the interim.

“(I’ll) finish up the job, just whatever my duties require me to do,” Moore said Tuesday. “It’ll be an interesting next term.”

Moore has been supervisor for one term and has been involved in lawsuits with the township trustees and the road commissioner.

Pam Fender, who beat Moore in Tuesday’s primary and has been critical of her tenure, said Moore lost primarily because people are tired of all of the money being spent on lawsuits. Trustee Gerald McMahon said at a recent meeting the cost of litigation has been several hundred thousand dollars.

Moore said Tuesday’s snowstorm kept some of her supporters from the polls.

Preliminary figures from the McHenry County Clerk’s office show that 2,021 votes were cast in Grafton Township.

According to unofficial results, Fender had 780 votes, Algonquin attorney Martin Waitzman had 618 and Moore had 598 votes.

Fender will now meet James Kearns, the owner of a pet distribution business, in the spring election. Kearns is running as an independent.

David Moore, Linda Moore’s husband, ran as a write-in candidate in the primary and received 20 votes, enough for him to move on to the consolidated election April 9, where he’ll face seven other candidates.

“I just asked certain people to write me in, that’s all,” he said in explaining how he campaigned.

He said his goals are to lower the property tax levy and to bring civility to the board. He is hopeful his 2010 misdemeanor battery case involving a township trustee will not have an effect on voters.

In other races, Alan Zielinski defeated Grafton Township Assessor Bill Ottley, who has been in office since 1990. Ottley said he slipped and broke his hip while knocking on doors in early February, an injury he said required surgery and that kept him from meeting more constituents.

“Once I fell, there’s not too much else you can do. I mean you can have people hand out fliers, but it’s not the personal contact,” Ottley said. “It’s all about meeting the people.”

Zielinski believes Grafton Township was ready for a change.

“It’s time for new blood in that office,” Zielinski said. “I think that pretty much set the undertone for (the win).”

Kathryn Francis, who is running unopposed for township clerk, secured 17 write-in votes to qualify for the spring election.

Francis served on the Huntley library board for six years and was its secretary for two years. She said she looks forward to bringing her experience to the township and of being part of a new era.

“I really want to do a good job for the constituents, the taxpayers of Grafton Township,” Francis said. “I plan to do my duties to the fullest.”