Three new Kane County Board members, along with returning board members and the returning board chair, were sworn in at a ceremony at the Kane County Branch Court in St. Charles on Monday.
Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog, a Democrat who won reelection in the Nov. 5 general election, was sworn in first. In her opening remarks at the ceremony, Pierog said board members have both an opportunity to make meaningful changes but also a responsibility to work together with fellow board members, even if it means reaching across the aisle.
“Earning a position on the Kane County Board is no small achievement,” she said. “It reflects not only your dedication and hard work throughout the campaign, but also the trust that our residents have placed in you. This trust is a testament to your commitment to fostering a better future for Kane County.”
The three newest Kane County Board members were chosen by voters in last month’s general election.
Sonia Garcia, a Democrat, is replacing Ron Ford, also a Democrat, as the Kane County Board member representing District 6, which covers parts of Aurora.
Ford served on the Kane County Board twice, first from 2008 to 2015 and then again from 2020 to 2024, officials said. He lost to Garcia in the March 19 Democratic primary.
Garcia ran unopposed in last month’s general election.
Jonathan Gripe, a Republican, is taking over the District 14 County Board seat from Mark Davoust, also a Republican. District 14 covers parts of St. Charles, South Elgin, Elgin and Campton Hills.
Davoust served on the Kane County Board from 2004 to 2024. He lost the March 19 Republican primary to Gripe.
Last month, Gripe won the race against Democratic candidate Brenda Engelhardt with 57.44% of the vote, compared to her 42.56%.
Ted Penesis, a Democrat, won the race to replace Mike Kenyon, a Republican, as the Kane County Board member representing District 16, which primarily covers South Elgin.
Kenyon served on the Kane County Board from 2004 to 2024. He lost against Eric Stare in the Republican primary earlier this year.
Penesis won the seat against Stare in last month’s general election with 53.05% of the vote, compared to Stare’s 46.95%.
Kane County Board members who were re-elected included District 2’s Dale Berman, a Democrat; District 4’s Mavis Bates, a Democrat; District 8’s Michelle Gumz, a Democrat; District 10’s Bill Tarver, a Democrat; District 12’s Bill Roth, a Republican; District 18’s Rick Williams, a Republican; District 20’s Cherryl Fritz Strathmann, a Democrat; District 22’s Vern Tepe, a Democrat, and District 24’s Jarett Sanchez, a Democrat.
Sixteenth Circuit Court Chief Judge Robert Villa swore in the new and returning board members.
The Kane County Board member seat for District 7, which is in Aurora, is open after Monica Silva, who used to hold the seat, was chosen to be the next Kane County coroner by voters in November’s general election. Kane County is accepting applications for the seat, and a new member will be appointed by Pierog with the consent of the County Board.
The person appointed will serve the remainder of the term, which expires in December 2026, according to past reporting.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
