This is one in a series of stories looking at contested races in the Aurora area in the March 19 primary election.
The race in the Democratic primary on March 19 for a seat on the Kane County Board from District 6 is between incumbent Ron Ford and challenger Sonia Garcia.
There is no one running in the Republican primary in District 6. The general election is set for Nov. 5.
Ford, 64, of Aurora, said he has served about nine years on the board.
Issues in the district, he said, include the local economy, education and increases in taxes.
“People do talk about immigration but with taxes people are afraid of them being raised and the price of everything has gone up,” he said.
Education, Ford said, “opportunity-wise for the kids,” is a concern.
“I talk to a lot of younger people and they don’t feel there are opportunities to advance,” he said. “People don’t have the time to go back to school, and the other issue is funding. People can’t step away from their work and go and get an education.”
If reelected, Ford said goals include making sure Kane County has an economic development plan, along with more fiber optic service and working to get vacant properties developed.
“The county never has had a plan, and right now we’re looking at an economic development initiative, but I want to see a plan that we’re actually executing,” he said. “We put something together but we need to execute. Right now, our finances are stable and we need to find a way to give relief to the taxpayers and the only way to do that is to bring in other resources.”
Regarding the internet and a fiber optics network, Ford said, “I’ve been working with the city of Aurora to bring fair prices of the internet to low-income areas and I would really like to see that executed.”
He said he is also concerned about property that the “county is holding” and how it can be put back on the tax rolls.
“The county holds onto too much property. What do we need to do with the property that we have?” Ford said. “How do we take the property the county has and put it back on the tax base. That’s another issue I’d like to address.”
Garcia, 45, of Aurora, said when she talks to voters, concerns in the district include questions about the role of Kane County Board members, public health concerns and programs for seniors.
“Regarding board members, I tell people there are 24 representatives and one is from District 6 and I am the voice that goes over there when decisions are being made that will affect the district and all of Kane County,” she said. “That’s where my vote comes in.”
Health and wellness are an issue as people are asking, “If we need help, where do we go or if we don’t have insurance what is the Kane County Board doing about that?” Garcia said.
She added that seniors continue to ask about what programs are available.
“People also tell me they can’t afford the senior care and whether there is any help for them or assistance so people don’t have to be home all day,” she said.
She said goals, if elected, include “where we are standing as a whole in Kane County – where things are, what things are on the table and how is everything looking?”
“The goal is to get action, not everything to be just on the table,” Garcia said. “We need to go ahead and get more action not just debating or ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but what are we doing for the community, my district or the whole of Kane County?”
Garcia said she is interested in creating more business opportunities and jobs, along with focusing on families.
“A lot of our people want good schools and to help police, and I want to go ahead and have safe communities where people can come to Kane County because we have all the amenities they need and it’s a place to live and there are opportunities for growth and continue improving day to day,” she said. “I want Kane County to continue to be number one.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
