2008 General Election: 2nd District Kendall County Board

There are two open positions for this seat that covers the eastern third of Kendall County, including the majority of the village of Oswego, as well as Na-Au-Say and Seward townships. Candidates include incumbent Jeff Wehrli, 55, a Republican; Robert L. Wyngard, 60, a Republican; James J. Feeley, 69, a Democrat; and Elizabeth E. Flowers, a Democrat. Flowers did not complete a candidate survey.

Jeff Wehrli
Why are you running for this office?
Because I believe I can be an asset to the leadership of this county.

Why are you the most qualified for this position?
With over 5 years of experience on the board, I know the commitment it takes to be an efficient County Board member.

What major needs of the county would you like to see addressed?
My number one concern is for the County to still be able to give the residents all the programs, assistance, and leadership they are use to during this economic downturn. I would also like to see a continued involvement from all our municipalities in the shaping of our future.

Now that the federal government has given its blessing to the Prairie Parkway, do you believe this road will become a reality? What role do you see the county taking assuming this project progresses? Will the parkway be beneficial to Kendall County?
I do believe this road will become a reality, although it will probably take quite some time to complete. If it is built as planned, the county has already had great input, to assure the Parkway will be built as a scenic route, not just a slab of concrete. I am confident the Parkway will be a great asset to Kendall County. The eventual completion of the road will assure our ability to move traffic through our county in the future .

Hearings began in September for another proposed Kendall County landfill. Do you believe a landfill will be cited in the county? Do you support the citing of landfills in the county? How should the coordination between the county and its municipalities work in this regard?
As a Board Member currently involved in a siting application, I am not able to offer opinions on landfills. I do know the county is required to update our Solid Waste Plan every 5 years, and the current update process for 2010 involves representatives from most all municipalities in the county.

Robert Wyngard
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for this position because I believe it is time for me to give back to my community. I have had great, responsible and exciting jobs over a long career and it is now time to use my experience, expertise, and wisdom to represent my friends and neighbors in Oswego and Kendall County, District 2. Serving other is a privlege and obligation.

Why are you the most qualified for this position?
I am retired and have the time to dedicate virtually fulltime to being a County Board member. I know how and when to make quality decisions. I am experienced at conducting research (computer and other) to support these decisions and will ensure the opinions of those I represent are included in the process. I have led and managed security projects with from 20 to 350 employees and with budgets of up to $15 million, annually.

What major needs of the county would you like to see addressed?
1) Maintaining a balanced budget with no new taxes.
2) Attracting new, quality business to the County and creating jobs and increasing revenues.
3) Promoting recycling and environmental sensitivity programs.
4) Improving facilities for KENCOM and increasing their responsibilities to include disasters, emergency management, and municipal aid programs among municipalities of the county.

Now that the federal government has given its blessing to the Prairie Parkway, do you believe this road will become a reality? What role do you see the county taking assuming this project progresses? Will the parkway be beneficial to Kendall County?
1) Yes, I believe the Parkway will become a reality, although, the funding for it is phased and fragmented and it will not be complete for probably a decade.
2) Compliance, safety and environmental oversight, and permitting.
3) Yes, the Parkway will be beneficial to Kendall County because of the relief of secondary road traffic issues and the generation of jobs.

Hearings began in September for another proposed Kendall County landfill. Do you believe a landfill will be cited in the county? Do you support the citing of landfills in the county? How should the coordination between the county and its municipalities work in this regard?
1) I don't really know if a landfill will be cited in Kendall County. I do know that a landfill will never be a popular project and no one wants it in their backyard. However, none of that matters given current State law and the County's Sold Waste Plan. If the application for citing is complete, fully compliant, timely, and otherwise follows the provisions of law, a landfill will be cited.
2) No, I do not support the citing of landfills in Kendall County.
3) The systems currently in-place for coordination are adequate.

James Feeley
Why are you running for this office?
I'm running for the Kendall County Board because I feel that the people who live in District #2 need someone who is willing to listen to their ideas and work with them to solve their problems. If elected, I will hold meetings in Boulder Hill, Oswego, Na Au Say and Seward Townships as often as needed.

Why are you the most qualified for this position?
I believe I'm the most qualified candidate because most of my life I have work to solve problems with in my community. As the elected Beat Facilitor for my community in Chicago I worked to help the police department and the neighbors solve the crime problems we were facing. In Oswego I have worked with the Knights of Columbus to sell Pork Chops at community events to raise money to fund our charities. I have helped develop a permanent congregate meal program that serves a majority of the seniors on Kendall County and I'm trying to establish a permanent center for the seniors living in the Oswegoland area. I feel that I can bring my background and ideas to help find better salutations to the problems faced by the voters in our county.

What major needs of the county would you like to see addressed?
Kendall County is currently developing a public transportation plan to serve member of the community who need bus service to get them to work, to the doctor and shop for groceries. We will need to bring together the cities, villages and private agencies that serve our community to be able to raise the 35 % matching funds needed by the county to supplement the state and federal money we have been granted. If we are going to make public transportation a permanent service it will take the best efforts of the county board to develop a successful plan. I think we need to find a positive salutation to how to best preserve and use the old county jail instead of making the land another parking lot. The county board needs to develop a better system for recycling our waste. They need to establish collection center and incur age the public to use them.

Now that the federal government has given its blessing to the Prairie Parkway, do you believe this road will become a reality? What role do you see the county taking assuming this project progresses? Will the parkway be beneficial to Kendall County?
I do not believe we need the Prairie Parkway. The 207 million dollars the federal government has made available will need matching funds of 43 million dollars from the state of Illinois. If this happens then the county board will need to make sure that there will be sufficient roads crossing the Prairie Parkway to provide easy access to all parts of the county. In building only the center section of the parkway I do not see how that will help transportation in our county. I believe 250 million dollars being spent could be better spent to widen Rt.47, build a bridge over the Fox River at Eldamain` road and other projects need in this county would be a much better spending of our tax dollars.

Hearings began in September for another proposed Kendall County landfill. Do you believe a landfill will be cited in the county? Do you support the citing of landfills in the county? How should the coordination between the county and its municipalities work in this regard?
I'm opposed to any landfill or transfer stations in Kendall County. We would only contribute about 6% of the solid waste to any landfill. The county board should vote to EXCLUDE LANDFILLS OR TRANSFER STATONS until we are able to learn more about developing safe, cost effective ways of disposing of our municipal solid waste. We do not want to lose our beautiful fertile farming community and contaminate our drinking water.