Thursday, December 27, 2012
On the Kane County website, new Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen sets his priorities in writing.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, December 27, 2012
Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen has set his priorities and started a process to rearrange the structure of county government, including the creation of a "deputy chairperson" position. According to the Kane County website, Lauzen reviewed with the County Board and the public his initial priorities for Kane County, which are basically the same as his campaign promises: 1. Freeze property tax levies 2. End cronyism 3. Introduce management best practices through innovation and austerity Lauzen noted that Kane County's tax levy has increased 50 percent from 2003 to 2010 with Kane County Government growing at more than twice the rate of taxpayer income. That's why the first of his top priorities was to freeze the levies. Lauzen said …
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Reports: Judge Thomas Mueller cites "lack of evidence" in case accusing former Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay of dishing out raises to cronies.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
A Kane County judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former County Board chairman candidate that accused Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay of dishing out hefty raises to high-level employees. The suit, filed by Jim MacRunnels, said McConnaughay didn't follow proper procedures in administering county personnel and salaries. The suit was filed in 2010, then dismissed, and was dismissed again Tuesday in appellate court, according to an article in the Daily Herald. A McConnaughay press release referred to the lawsuit as "politically motivated" and "frivilous." “While it is gratifying that the court has again found these allegations meritless, it is unfortunate that the county had to incur the cost of defending itself from what …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Rob Russell wins the race with 56 percent of the vote. Here are some quotes and a recap of other Kane County races.
Republican Rob Russell won a contentious race Tuesday for Kane County coroner, according to unofficial election results. With 291 precincts reporting, Russell captured about 56 percent of the total vote. His opponent, Democratic candidate Tao Martinez, came in with 43 percent. "I’m very happy, very humbled for this opportunity," Russell told Patch. "I look forward to serving the citizens of Kane County for the next four years." Martinez said the campaign, his first time running for public office, was a challenging one. He congratulated all of tonight's winners on both sides of the political spectrum. "I have no regrets in how I ran my campaign," Martinez said. "I tried to set an example. I was not your typical candidate. Everyone noticed …
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Kane Board chairman pushes through zero-increase levy after Finance Committee chair suggests a tax increase.
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, October 6, 2012
After the Kane County Board Finance Committee Chairman proposed a 2013 budget that would raise the property tax levy in spite of declining real estate values, Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay countered with her own budget proposal that freezes the levy on existing property for the second consecutive year. "I could not stand by and watch an irresponsible budget increase the burden on the taxpayers," said McConnaughay, Republican candidate for state senate in the 33rd District. "When property owners are seeing values go down it is unconscionable to raise their taxes, especially without any coherent reason why." County Finance Committee Chairman Jim Mitchell wrote a budget that increased the county tax levy in spite of a 6.8 percent decrease…
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Saturday, March 3, 2012
Tom O'Neil: A Department of Defense directive prohibits members of the armed forces on active duty from “participating in any political activity while in military uniform.
- ELECTIONS
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Saturday, March 3, 2012
To the Editor: Last weekend, my wife and I received a political advertisement from Chris Lauzen in the mail. It was a handsome political piece which contains, among other things, a color photograph of Sen. Lauzen and his family. Two of the senator’s sons are shown in their full dress uniforms, one from the Marine Corps and one from the United States Navy. Sen. Lauzen is justiflably proud of his two sons in the military. However, Department of Defense directive No. l344.10, effective Feb. 19, 2008, prohibits members of the armed forces on active duty from “participating in any political activity while in military uniform.” (DoDD 1344.10 E32) Political activity is defined as “activity supporting or relating to candidates representing, or …
Monday, February 13, 2012
U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam says Chris Lauzen is a "principled conservative with business acumen" and endorses Lauzen in the Kane County Board race.
- ELECTIONS
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Monday, February 13, 2012
U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam, who represents the 6th District of Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives has endorsed state Sen. Chris Lauzen for Kane County Board chairman. Roskam is the chief deputy majority whip, the fourth-ranking Republican leader in the House. “I am honored to wholeheartedly endorse Chris Lauzen for Kane County Board chairman. Chris is a principled conservative with business acumen who understands the challenges we face today," Roskam wrote. “He is committed to a bright future for Kane County and knows how to make government live within its means." Lauzen said he appreciates Roskam’s support and looks forward to continuing to work closely with him for the good of Kane County. SOURCE: Chris Lauzen campaign …
Monday, December 5, 2011
Kane County may lead the way in electric vehicle standards in the state and Fermi's Tevatron isn't dead yet.
The Kane County Board will be voting on an ordinance in a few months that will set standards for electric vehicles, making it the first governmental body to do so in Illinois. According to a recent article in The Beacon News, a task force including several industry experts has been meeting to draft the content of the ordinance. Following a presentation expected at the January Committee of the Whole meeting, the ordinance will then go to the full board for approval. The county is planning to build charging stations, according to another good story by Chicago Tribune freelance correspondent Clifford Ward, but it is setting the standards so that private enterprise can jump in. That story has been picked up via Tribune syndication in a lot of …
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719 S Batavia Ave, Geneva, IL
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Friday, October 14, 2011
It's several months off, but who are you leaning toward to lead Kane County in 2012?
According to the Kane County Clerk's website, the 2012 general primary is Tuesday, March 20. That's plenty of time for others to jump into the race for Kane County Board chairman, but as it stands, there are two Republican contestants: Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and state Sen. Chris Lauzen. Already, the two have tussled a little bit over the garbage incineration issue, with Burns asking for Lauzen to be more clear in his position and Lauzen calling Burns' interpretation of his position "inaccurate." Although March might seem a long way, it comes up quickly. The last day to register to vote is Feb. 21, and absentee voting goes from Tuesday, Feb. 9, to Monday, March 19. Early voting is Monday, Feb 27, to March 15. So, who do you like? Which is…
Friday, September 30, 2011
Mayor fires first press release salvo of the election for Kane County Board chairman.
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns fired the first salvo in the election for Kane County Board chairman Thursday, e-mailing a press release that challenges his opponent, state Sen. Chris Lauzen, "to offer more details of a plan to site a garbage incinerator within Kane County." According to a Daily Herald story published on Aug. 13, Lauzen proposed the idea of "solid waste power plants" in Kane County. Lauzen has not released details of what "private funds" would be used to cover the "$30 million to $500 million" price tag or where such facilities would be located. "From Day One of any such proposal, residents who could lose even the slightest bit of their way of life must be aware of, and involved in, the process," Burns said. "Municipal leaders …
Kelly
9:20 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Yea where is your info coming from Romney won Kane county. more ›