Candidates discuss Lake County Board District 5's top issue
Candidates seeking the Lake County Board's District 5 seat have differing opinions on what residents feel are the most important issues in the race.
Niki Warden, a 46-year-old Democrat from Fox Lake, said consolidation of varying government entities to save taxpayers money is the most important issue. Judy Martini, a 64-year-old Republican from Fox Lake, said reducing real estate taxes and turning in a balanced budget are her priorities.
Warden and Martini are facing off on the Nov. 8 ballot. The winner will replace outgoing Lake County Board member Bonnie Thompson Carter, who chose to not seek re-election. The district includes Fox Lake, Lakemoor and Volo and parts of Round Lake, Wauconda, Antioch and Lake Villa.
Martini won a three-way race during the March primary.
She represented county board District 1 from 1994 to 2008. She moved out of state in 2012 but returned to Lake County in 2014.
Warden, the Fox Lake village clerk, was named the candidate after Gloria Charland dropped out in June due to personal reasons.
During a Daily Herald candidate endorsement interview, Warden said streamlining government is an important issue because it could help reduce residential tax burdens. She also said the county should seek intergovernmental agreements with municipalities.
"People need to be informed about what the consolidation really is and what it entails," Warden said, adding mosquito abatement and drainage districts are potentially ripe for consolidation.
"In working with Fox Lake, we do many intergovernmental agreements. We find it is beneficial to us to reach out and help ourselves and others, and it's a win-win. We don't have that overhead, you don't have that cost, but still getting it (work) taken care of. The county should look into that."
Martini said the biggest issues facing the county are the budget and reducing real estate taxes on residents.
"There is over 100 unfunded mandates that trickle down to the county, which affects the taxpayers," Martini said, adding the county needs to "do more with less" because the amount of money coming from the state has been cut.
She also said the area could do more to attract sales tax money through economic development in District 5 and through tourism.
"The area we are in is known is for their tourism," she said. "I would like to see a push and a partnership to generate more cooperation with promoting tourism and creating jobs."