Carpentersville returns two incumbents, accepts a newcomer

Carpentersville voters returned two incumbents to office as well as a political newcomer who said she was running because she wanted to be part of what was going on in the village.

With all precincts reporting, Trustee Pat Schultz won a second term with 356 votes. Trustee Kevin Rehberg, who was appointed to the board last fall, won a seat also with 356 votes. Newcomer Virginia “Ginger” Stephens came in third at 312 votes.

Stephens said she knew voter turnout would be low Tuesday, so she rallied her staff to get out the vote.

“We just had a lot of people work really hard to get the word out and nudge them to the polls,” Stephens said. “Every vote counted.”

For her part Schultz is looking forward to bringing a sense of community back to Carpentersville. “We’ve got a very nice, good, solid board. I think we all work together. We don’t all agree on everything, but we agree to disagree, but I think we all have the same kind of thoughts.”

Losing in Tuesday’s election were Bryan Moore, who had 231 votes, and perennial candidate Kent Baldwin, who had 191 votes.

The candidates had different ideas when it comes to cost savings.

Schultz, who works as an accounts receivable and billing manager, said the fire department should investigate whether it could use some of the same vendors as the Elgin Fire Department. If so, it should join forces with Elgin to save money on equipment.

Stephens, an executive administrative assistant, said department heads should consider delaying certain purchases from year to year.

Moore, an assistant quality manager, said officials should spend more time increasing economic development in the village to raise money, instead of finding ways to cut what’s in the budget.

Rehberg, an audit manager, wanted to see Carpentersville consolidate services with other villages to save money for the taxpayers. If the board decides this is the best direction for the village, trustees should put the question to the voters in a referendum, Rehberg said.

Another idea Rehberg had was to revisit the water rate hikes the board approved two years ago.

Baldwin, who ran for office in 2011 and in 2009, says the village could staff save time and money if it stopped sending out past-due notices that urge people to pay their water bill before the village shuts it off.