This is one in a series of stories looking at contested races in the Aurora area in the Nov. 5 election.
The race for Kane County Board in District 16 in the fall election is between Democrat Ted Penesis and Republican Eric Stare.
The general election is set for Nov. 5.
Stare, 46, of South Elgin, said residents in the district are concerned about taxes and spending by the County Board.
Taxes, Stare said, are an issue and people are worried about the “sales tax going up.”
“That’s an issue and the taxes in general. Every year, the tax rate is going up and that’s a problem for them,” he said. “They can hardly afford to pay what they’re paying now.”
Spending by the Kane County Board is another issue, Stare said.
“Residents are concerned the board is overspending and not living within its means,” he said.
If elected, Stare said goals include “working on our homeless population” as well as helping youth, veterans and seniors.
The homeless issue needs “to be a cooperative within the townships,” he said.
“I don’t want to put a Band-Aid on it but find a solution to help these people and turn things around,” he said.
In terms of seniors, Stare said he “would like to find more programs and keep them involved” as well as helping veterans who he says “are not addressed very often in our communities and getting them on their feet.”
He said he has issues with the Climate Action Implementation Plan approved by the board over the summer, which he said seems about getting “wind farms on every piece of vacant land we have in Kane County.”
“I think that’s geared more toward commercial but they want everything to be electric and EV vehicles. They are too expensive,” he said.
Penesis, 61, of South Elgin, said district residents are concerned about spending and taxes, as well as local issues “like an intersection that needs to be changed or a street or county road.”
Spending, he said, involves people saying taxes are too high “but people are also concerned about the money being spent wisely.”
“Where is the money going to? That’s what I’m hearing pretty much at the door and, of course, everyone is saying the same that their taxes are too high,” he said.
“Some say they are fine with the taxes,” he said, but “just want to be sure they are being spent the right way.”
Regarding infrastructure, Penesis said intersections like Randall Road and Hopps Road continue to be very dangerous.
“There is also a railroad overpass to the south that’s planned and they are looking at 2026 at the earliest to do these projects and we’re wondering if IDOT could separate these projects and get the intersection done first so no one else gets hurt,” he said.
If elected, Penesis said his goals include “diversifying the tax base so that the burden isn’t all on working class families.”
“One idea I have is to do a better job of economic development and attracting businesses as well as retaining them,” he said. “Most importantly is the small business sector which is the backbone of our economy. I want to make sure they are operating as efficiently as possible.”
To that end, Penesis wants to organize “small business town halls, where experts come in and meet with the owners and make suggestions.”
Penesis also said that “we need to enhance recreational opportunities.”
“It’s all about quality of life and I want to make sure we maintain the quality of life which was the reason I chose to move here 25 years ago,” he said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
