More contested races emerge in Kane, McHenry counties
Several contested races for the upcoming election season have emerged in Kane and McHenry counties as the filing period for the March 20 primary ended Monday.
As expected, veteran Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham, an Aurora Republican, filed petitions Monday seeking re-election. He will face Stanton Bond, Cunningham's former deputy clerk and current trustee on the Montgomery village board, in the primary.
The winner will take on Democrat Nicolas "Nico" Jiminez of Elburn in the November election.
Democrat Willie Mayes Sr. of Aurora has also filed petitions in his second attempt to secure the Kane County sheriff position. He lost the general election to incumbent Don Kramer in 2014. Kramer will face GOP challenger Kevin Tindall in the primary.
The primary filing period also confirmed a competitive election season for the 24-seat county board, where all of the odd-numbered seats are up for re-election.
Key races include District 15, where incumbent Barb Wojnicki picked up another challenger for the Republican nomination when Aaron P. Lawler of St. Charles joined the race Friday. Robert Koonce is also seeking the nomination.
The winner will face Lucas Strom of Maple Park or Gerald Palmere of Elgin, who are vying for the Democratic nomination.
McHenry County
The Republican nominee for McHenry County clerk will face a challenger in the November election.
Democrat Drew Georgi Jr., a Marine veteran and former Hebron trustee, has filed nominating papers in hopes of replacing one-term incumbent Mary McClellan, who is not seeking re-election.
Recorder Joe Tirio and former McHenry city clerk Janice Dalton, both Republicans, are also vying for the seat. They will face off in the GOP primary in March.
If elected clerk, Tirio, a Woodstock resident, intends to push his plan to abolish the recorder position and merge its functions with the clerk's office. After being elected recorder last year, he worked with other elected officials to put a binding referendum question on the March ballot, asking voters if the consolidation should be completed by Dec. 1, 2020.
Georgi's priorities include improving transparency and strengthening the integrity of the voting process, according to his website.
In the other countywide races - sheriff, treasurer and regional superintendent of schools - only the Republican incumbents filed for re-election.
Compared to last week, the end of the primary filing period confirmed a more competitive election for most candidates seeking a spot on the primarily Republican county board. Two seats from each of the six districts - half the 24-member board - are up for election.
Districts 3, 4, 5 and 6 will see contested races in the GOP primary, with at least one incumbent from each seeking re-election. Other than in District 4, at least one Democratic candidate from each district has filed, meaning most county board races will also be contested in the November election.