2008 General Election: Kane County Board chairman

Karen McConnaughay, 51, a Republican, is a first-term board chairman incumbent. She has been a county board member since 1992. Sandy Kaczmarski, 56, a Democrat, is the challenger.

Karen McConnaughay
Why are you running for this office?
As a longtime resident, I know firsthand that there is no better place to live, work and raise a family than Kane County. I also know that our county is growing rapidly, and that our greatest challenge is to protect our quality of life regardless of population size.

That is why as County Board Chairman I have made it a priority to bring community leaders together to identify our shared challenges and work together to find solutions. In less than four years, we have created a comprehensive strategic plan to guide county leaders, invested in road and bridge projects to relieve traffic congestion, re-examined and strengthened our emergency response system to ensure the highest level of service and replaced our finance system to provide greater accountability. These and other steps were necessary for our future - and they were done without raising property taxes.

But there is more work to do, and I seek a second term in office so that we can continue our progress and build on our successes.

Why are you the most qualified for this position?
In my first campaign for Board Chair, I promised to build consensus, provide citizens with responsible, transparent and efficient county government and to lay out a strong vision and course for the future of Kane County. We have delivered on those promises by working everyday to address the challenges as one of the top fifty fastest growing counties in the country. I have been proud to lead a team of dedicated public servants who focus on achieving cooperative agreement to move our County forward with badly needed and long delayed infrastructure and public safety projects and enhancing programs dedicated to the protection of our environment.

By working together, we have overhauled and updated our financial system, procurement office, and tax administration system. Our efforts have resulted in low debt, sufficient cash reserves, fully funded pensions, and a decline in the tax rate from 7% to 5% and less than 5 cents of every property tax $1 used for county services.

In addition, my administration has

• Chaired the State's Regional Water Supply Planning Study, led efforts to ensure a sustainable water supply for Kane County.
• Strengthened the County's Ethics Ordinance, hired an Ethics Advisor.
• Completed construction of new Adult Justice Center on time and $2 million under budget
• Expanded the Kane County Farmland Preservation Program which now protects 4,655 acres of the County's most productive soils on 34 family farms.
• Launched new County website, www.countyofkane.org, providing unprecedented access to information and background materials.
• Created Code Red Reverse 911 System for notification of county residents in event of emergency
• Launched "Help for Homeowners" public information program that informs county residents about the services available to assist them with property tax exemptions and freeze options as well as foreclosure prevention counseling.

We have made significant and positive change in less than 4 years, but we must continue to make government more efficient and most importantly responsive and accountable to the taxpayers. I have demonstrated through proven leadership that I have the necessary experience and skills to govern Kane County for another term as Board Chairman.

What major needs of the county would you like to see addressed?
All areas of government services will be challenged in some way by projected growth for the region. The reality of the trend of federal/state government mandating programs for local government to administer without identifying necessary funding sources to support those services, will continue to add strain to the County's budget.

As our population grows, my administration's commitment to cost effective delivery of services will continue to pursue strategies which incorporate evolving technologies, cooperation with local governments in the elimination of duplicative services, and increase administrative cost efficiency through pooled purchasing power in areas such as health insurance and commodity purchasing.

We must protect the taxpayers from bearing the cost of new growth. Revenues derived from fees placed specifically on new building developments through transportation impact fees and special service area levies will continue to be necessary to fund critical infrastructure associated with new growth.

In addition, there are several areas that require the county's attention; we must continue our work to ensure a strong mix of housing options, identify further efficiencies in our growing judicial system, protect our rural tradition by continuing our award winning Farmland Protection Program and Open Space initiatives, which have been at the forefront and are being studied for replication in other counties. Our Riverboat Grant Program will continue to provide enhanced support for community organizations in the interest of environment, education and economic issues.

Our top transportation priorities remain the Stearns Road Bridge project and improvements on Orchard and Anderson Roads, Rt. 47/I90 Toll way interchange, Long Meadow Parkway and intersection upgrades - which are funded through local and federal dollars.

Recently announced transit initiatives such as "Randall Road for Tomorrow: An Emerging Bus Rapid Transit Corridor" will reduce congestion and provide transit service for the population and employment centers of tomorrow.

Because our community continues to provide a high quality of life, businesses are looking to Kane County to either develop new opportunities or relocate. As a result, the county has stepped up efforts in the area of economic development to identify those opportunities which result in sustainable employment throughout the county.

What do you think budget priorities should be? How sound do you believe the county's finances are?
Unlike Cook County government, Kane County Government's fiscal success is a natural result of a commitment to limiting spending and becoming more efficient. Our record of sound fiscal management is demonstrated in our low debt, sufficient cash reserves (6 months of operating revenue), fully funded pensions, and a balanced budget. Just as important, we achieved those and other accomplishments without adding to the property tax burden of our residents. In fact, the County share of property taxes amounts to less than 5-cents of every tax dollar - down from 7 cents per dollar a decade ago.

The County will need to continue to identify and prioritize the services required by federal and state law and aggressively address non- essential programs that are obsolete, under utilized, or inefficient.

Faced with limited dollars and growing needs, the County Board has proposed reducing next year's budget by 1 ½ percent creating greater efficiency without sacrificing services. In addition, we have recently implemented a hiring freeze and I have publicly announced that should I be re-elected I will not accept the pay increase scheduled in upcoming budget year, and have called upon County elected officials and upper management to follow suit. I strongly believe that it is incumbent upon us to lead by example during challenging economic times.

While we recognize the need to invest in the services and facilities required for a population expected to reach 800,000 in Kane County by 2030, we must balance that with our financial realities of today. Ultimately, we must not expand services unless a revenue source exists.

During my tenure we have proven record of success that a demonstrates our conservative approach to finances does not have to prevent the County Board from moving forward with important initiatives to meet the needs of Kane County residents and communities.

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 Kane County?
The imperative of the Prairie Parkway is to alleviate traffic congestion by providing a bypass regional highway system around the Chicago metropolitan area from Indiana to Wisconsin. With population growth expected to add 1 million residents in the next twenty years, the Federal and State Governmentsare moving forward on the first phase of this project which will take decades to complete. The role of county government is strictly advisory, to that end, we plan to monitor and offer input as it relates to wetlands, natural areas, and connectivity to our local road system.

How should the county fund future transportation needs? Are toll roads/bridges the answer? Can/should we expect more from the state or federal governments?
The additional strain on the county and local transportation system is a direct consequence of the current state administration's inability to pass appropriations for long term investment in a regional road system. In the last four years, my administration was successful in bringing back more than $80 million in federal tax dollars for projects such as the construction of the Stearns Road Corridor, the Longmeadow Parkway and METRA Train Station expansion.

It is imperative that we continue our efforts in Springfield and Washington by working closely with our U.S. Senators, Congressional delegation and State Legislators, which is why I appointed a majority of Democrat County Board members when I created the legislative committee. Our commitment to bi-partisan cooperation is one way we can as a County realizes the return of our fair share of the significant dollars county taxpayers and businesses pay to the government.

The State of Illinois grants very limited permission for toll funding authority use, limited for local governments and exclusively for toll bridges.

It is important to note that the Longmeadow Parkway discussion regarding the feasibility of a toll bridge has been lead by and includes ten municipalities and Kane and McHenry Counties. In order to evaluate the merits and to gather public input, I have appointed a task force.

As an integral part of the expanding suburban northern Illinois community we want to build upon the success of regional partnerships such as the Rt. 47/I90 toll way interchange expansion project which is a direct result of Kane, McHenry, the community of Huntley and the Toll way Authority coming together to address this much needed transportation investment. This type of community and intergovernmental cooperation are a formula for future success in integrating regional local transportation planning and investment.

Do you support the plan for the future county campus?
As the population of our County continues to grow, there will be an increased need for services, especially in the judicial public safety system. While current facilities are adequately meeting the demand for services, projected future population growth make it essential to properly plan for future needs.

Better operational efficiency and increased cost savings can be realized through the consolidation of administrative functions into one central location. Additionally, the development of satellite locations in large population centers accessible to residents for day-to-day county services are currently under consideration. Offering convenience for our citizens is critical for long range facility planning.

If the economy continues to falter and budget cuts must be made, what departments/programs would you like to cut first?
As stated previously the County will need to continue to identify and prioritize the services required by federal and state law and aggressively address non- essential programs that are obsolete, under utilized, or inefficient. Essential and critical services will always be a top priority and will not be compromised.

As we monitor and evaluate the current economic downturn with respect to possible future revenue short fall, the delay of capital improvements and new programs may be necessary.

Personnel costs represent the largest portion of the county budget, and therefore the expansion of the current hiring freeze may prove necessary as well. Other cost saving measures such as the employment of a four-day work week and flex time for appropriate personnel could be explored. Also consideration is being given to wellness programs that are now being utilized and piloted by employers in the public and private sector and have proven to be effective in the reduction of employer paid health care costs.

Sandy Kaczmarski
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for this office because I have lost confidence in the leadership in the county and feel I could do a better job and make better decisions. There has been reckless spending the last four years, huge expenditures without identified funding (Montgomery Ward property), and a needed new jail was finally built, but all along it was known it was too small to meet the needs of the county. So the taxpayers will continue to pay millions to house the rest of the inmates outside the county. I just feel our government can do a better job than that. Consultant fees have more than tripled in the last four years, and for what?

Why are you the most qualified for this position?
I spent seven years at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County as head of public information, working with the county board. I ran for office as Forest Preserve Commissioner when the two boards in DuPage split in 2002. I am a member of the American Association of University Women, and served on the Illinois state board under Ruth Sweetser, who is now the national chairman. I am an active member of the Conservation Foundation, I am also a member of Geneva Rotary, currently on the board and the president-elect for 2009-2010. I worked for a number of years as a radio news anchor in Chicago WBBM-AM, WGN-AM and WLS-AM, covering several elections, interviewing elected officials and reporting on news stories. I have been published in the Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, Naperville, Sun, and Beacon News newspapers. I was briefly the editor of a small suburban newspaper before major cuts. I am committed to bringing openness and accountability to our local government which I feel is lacking.

What major needs of the county would you like to see addressed?
Transportation and water issues top the list for future challenges. "Smart Growth," which requires development to be sustainable and friendly to the environment, can help address these issues through the willingness of community leaders to work together for the county's future strength. Maintaining services to our citizens with decreasing revenues due to our "self-correcting" economy will also be a great challenge. By focusing on strengthening our infrastructure, eliminating unnecessary consulting fees, freezing elected officials' salaries and making thoughtful decisions will keep Kane County strong.

What do you think budget priorities should be? How sound do you believe the county's finances are?
I believe the county's finances are on very shaky ground. The overall economy, of course, is affecting everyone; however, the reckless spending of the last four years hasn't helped. We are locked into buying property on Randall Road under very suspicious circumstances, with no money earmarked and no clear understanding of why taxpayers must foot the bill for this piece of real estate the board chairman insists we must buy. The jail is far from finished, and by the time the suggested buildouts occur, inmate populations likely will be even higher than they are today, a misjudgment that is costing taxpayers more than $2 million a year right now. Recent finance/budget meetings show that revenues are seriously lower than anticipated resulting in seriously lower revenue. Almost all departments already are over budget. We must reign in this spending and focus on stabilizing county services, work with state and federal elected officials to secure more help from those levels, and work with communities to encourage new businesses to create jobs.

I am also disturbed to learn that the county's treasurer continues to be barred from full access to financial records, particularly those involving the jail.

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 Kane County?
I have been and continue to oppose the Prairie Parkway. This five-mile stretch will truly be Kane County's "road to nowhere" if it is built. The idea that it will alleviate congestion is laughable since there don't seem to be traffic jams caused by people trying to get from Sugar Grove out to Minooka. In April 2007, 88 percent of Big Rock Township voters and 81 percent of Kaneville Township voters said no to the Parkway that will cut through some of Kane County's fertile farmland. It won't do anything to alleviate congestion, because there is no congestion to the west. Interstate 39 remains an uncrowded north-south route. All you have to do to find a real problem is drive down Route 47 through Sugar Grove, Elburn and north to Huntley at almost any time of the day to understand serious traffic problems and congestion. After I am elected in November, I will do everything I can to "put the final nail in the coffin" of the Prairie Parkway project and focus on the county's needed bridge projects, and improving the current infrastructure.

How should the county fund future transportation needs? Are toll roads/bridges the answer? Can/should we expect more from the state or federal governments?
The RTA tax is one place. Kane County was expected to receive $15 million a year, but with the economy it is doubtful revenues will be that high. The county needs to continue to develop options for public transportation that includes bike routes, additional bus service, and continue to explore the feasibility of a rail service connecting key cities with the commuter train service already available.

I am reluctant to support toll bridges. With the economy the way it is, it might only increase the traffic it was meant to alleviate with people avoiding it because of the tolls. We need to work aggressively to get the state and federal governments to ante up their share to help taxpayers at the local level.

Do you support the plan for the future county campus?
No. Security concerns could shut down the entire Judicial Center and county offices if they are located on the same campus. It's big; access and parking is much easier at offices on Batavia Road. Buildouts for the jail and juvenile center already have been included in a concept plan approved by the board August 12, 2008 leaving little room for anything other than adequate parking. Visitors will need to wear walking shoes.

Rather than overbuild the property which is surrounded on the north and south by homes, the remaining property should be set aside as a nature area planted with native prairie plants to offset some of the impact of the development. An open area and perhaps even a trail system would allow for water runoff created by all the concrete and create a pleasant buffer for our surrounding neighbors. I am also disturbed that community leaders such as those in St. Charles continue to be left out of some negotiations and decisions. When they address the board about their concerns, they are barely acknowledged. I will work diligently to mend those fences and ensure that everyone will be welcome at the table so that decisions are made with everyone's input.

If the economy continues to falter and budget cuts must be made, what departments/programs would you like to cut first?
Let's get one thing straight - the economy is in serious shape and will continue to falter in the next few years. This is a certainty. Recent financial/budget committee meeting reports indicate grave concerns of markedly reduced revenues resulting in almost every department being significantly over budget and the year isn't over yet. The reckless spending of the last four years has got to stop. Every department will need to be looked at closely for possible cuts, but I would like to avoid areas that provide important services such as the health department and areas of public safety such as the sheriff's department.

I can tell you the very first thing that will be cut is the public relations consultant the board chairman hired for $3,100 a month. I don't think it's an accident that Brad Hahn used to work for Dennis Hastert. I also would not approve $1 million for the Forest Preserve to buy an ice skating rink. I still can't figure that one out.