Gottemoller, Kopsell lead McHenry Board Dist. 3 race

Party appeared to trump incumbency Tuesday night in the race for two seats on the McHenry County Board from District 3.

With 38 of 41 precincts reporting, Republicans incumbent Joe Gottemoller and challenger Donald Kopsell were leading while incumbent Democrat Kathleen Bergan Schmidt appeared to be headed for defeat, unofficial results show.

The totals show Gottemoller with 6,900 votes, followed by Kopsell with 5,291 votes and Schmidt trailing with 4,685 votes.

Gottemoller, a real estate and zoning attorney, was elected to the board in 2012.

He has served as chairman of the county board's planning and development committee, which has overseen review of the proposed Unified Development ordinance.

Kopsell, a Vietnam War veteran, lost his 2013 re-election bid as Nunda Township highway commissioner. He previously served in that post 16 years.

Schmidt is a former county board member.

The district includes all of Nunda Township, southeastern McHenry and northeastern Algonquin townships, including all or parts of Crystal Lake, McHenry, Prairie Grove and Lakemoor.