Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of stories looking at contested races in the April 1 general election.
The race for mayor in St. Charles in the April 1 general election is between incumbent Lora Vitek and former Kane County Chief Judge Clint Hull.
Vitek, 47, is running for her second term as mayor and said that issues among voters this year include the possible removal of the dam on the Fox River in St. Charles, continued growth in the city and concerns about taxes, even “though the city portion is stable,” she said.
“There was a report by the Army Corps of Engineers that the dam be removed and people feel St. Charles should have been carved out of the study,” she said. “There were several dams that were part of the study and St. Charles, having the river right through its downtown, has more recreational activities on it than other rivers and other dams. We’re just unique that we’ve had such a boating presence and other activities. People are concerned about what has been so special about St. Charles might change.”
Business is strong in the city’s downtown, Vitek said, noting there is 95% occupancy there “which is extremely great for any city,” along with what she said is a strong industrial sector in the community.
“Industrial is at 97% (occupancy), which brings jobs to our community and we’ve done all this by reducing our debt by almost $20 million,” Vitek said. “We also have an active, bubbling, energetic restaurant community and vibe here and the issue is people want to see that continue.”
Regarding taxes, the city portion on a resident’s tax bill remains stable, she said.
“We’re less than 10% of someone’s tax bill and, in terms of concerns, it’s usually a matter of education about what the taxes are for and who’s being paid what,” Vitek said.
If re-elected, Vitek said her goals include continuing to work on a pedestrian bike study that was launched this year.
“I want to see a lot of that implemented and making our city safer and just a better, walkable community,” she said.
A second goal is the development of Fox Haven Square, a 7.5-acre retail and dining destination planned near Charlestowne Mall.
“To me, that is spurring potential development on the Charlestowne Mall site, so I’m confident that we’re going to see some movement there and that’s one of my goals in the next term,” Vitek said.
A third goal is to develop the old police department site off of Riverside Drive along the river which she said offers some potential.
“Now that Whole Foods is coming, I believe we’ll be able to develop that site with something balanced that our whole community would like to have. Not on a large scale, but something that enhances our community and Pottawatomie Park and the river,” she said.
Hull, 57, a former Kane County judge, is running for the first time as mayor and said issues in St. Charles among voters include the hiring of a new police chief, redevelopment of the Charlestowne Mall site and whether to renew a contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency.
“The police chief issue – our former chief resigned after 11 years. Nobody really understands why he resigned, but at the end of the day, the city needs a new chief,” Hull said. “Obviously from a citizen’s standpoint, from my standpoint, the community starts and stops with public safety and making sure we have a safe community. Hiring a new police chief is a huge hire and ultimately as a prosecutor for 16 years and then a judge, I’ve been working with chiefs of police the last 30 years and feel I bring a lot of experience to that hire.”
Redevelopment of the mall site is important to voters, “because it’s been vacant for seven years.”
“We’ve had people that have signed contracts to purchase it and then pulled out,” Hull said. “People want something done with the property.”
Regarding the electric power issue, Hull said the current power contract ends in 2035 and that the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency “wants us to do an early renewal and extend to 2055.”
“Most of the power we get from St. Charles is from a coal-burning plant in Springfield – 80% comes from that and citizens don’t want us to extend the contract to 2055 without doing our due diligence to find if there are ways to make sure our energy is cleaner and more renewable,” he said. “That’s why there is so much citizen engagement.”
If elected, Hull listed a number of goals including “making sure the City Council works as a team.”
“Right now, I don’t believe that all 10 aldermen are being heard, so I want to come in and right away try to establish where all 10 people are working together collaboratively and building a team no matter what the issue is,” Hull said.
Secondly, Hull said he would like “to build communication with our residents.”
“By communication, I mean being available to our residents and businesses so that when they have issues or concerns, they can get a hold of the mayor about those issues and the mayor is there to listen and to help,” he said.
Hull said a third goal “is to make sure we remember our historical roots and continue to grow” as the community moves forward.
“Continuing to grow is good, but as we continue to grow, we have to always remember what makes St. Charles special and making sure that when we do grow, we’re always thoughtful and remembering what made us the community that we are today,” he said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
