Kane chairman contenders talk funding, ethics
By Linda Girardi For The Beacon-News January 24, 2012 1:54PM
Kane County board chair candidate Chris Lauzen (left) answers a question about open space in Kane County as his opponent, Kevin Burns, listens during a candidate forum on Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in St. Charles. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: February 27, 2012 8:43AM
The four candidates vying for Kane County Board chairman touted their backgrounds and spoke about funding and ethics concerns this week at a forum at the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles.
State Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns are seeking the nomination in the Republican primary on March 20, while former St. Charles Mayor Sue Klinkhamer and former Carpentersville Village President Bill Sarto will square off in the Democratic primary.
The candidates took the stage of the Norris Cultural Arts Center to give opening statements and answer questions from the audience.
Lauzen pledged to carry his work ethic and common sense approach from 13 years in Springfield into the office.
“In the Senate, my work has been focused on finances and trying to stop the madness, frankly in both parties, of borrowing and spending more than we bring in,” the longtime state senator said.
Lauzen said his legislative experience and established relationships will be valuable when the county reaches for state and federal resources.
Lauzen said one of his priorities will be to freeze the county’s tax levy. “It makes no sense that our property values have gone down but our property taxes continue to go up,” Lauzen said.
Burns said he offers 25 years of executive leadership experience in non-profit industry, higher education, health care advocacy and amateur sports — along with 20 years experience in municipal government, the last 11 as mayor.
“I have built a solid record of successful, measurable, meaningful and sustainable executive leadership; as mayor I have inspired a complex and diverse organization of dedicated professionals,” Burns said.
“I have held the line on taxes with solid and conservative fiscal management practices, eliminated cumbersome and costly regulations, fostered economic development and helped create jobs.”
Klinkhamer said as a candidate she would make no promises or sign pledges.
“I won’t promise to lower the taxes — no one can predict future needs. If you cut taxes, you must also cut services; if you sign pledges, you’ll never be open to compromise to solve issues,” Klinkhamer said.
Sarto said he would “do all in his power” to cut taxes.
“We have a tax rate 300 percent higher than the average of other counties in the nation,” he said.
Sarto said the county needs a new direction to end the “political squabbling” between the County Board and elected office holders.
Funding services
The candidates were asked how they plan to fund road improvements and additional law enforcement.
“You don’t do it by lowering the tax,” Klinkhamer said.
She said 5 percent of a homeowner’s tax bill goes to the county and it’s important to maintain the current services.
Sarto, however, said “(taxes) are forcing people out of their homes.”
Burns said he would request an 18-month moratorium on the county’s road impact fees ordinance to “spur economic development.”
Burns said court and jail services represent 65 percent of the county’s general fund and those “essential” services, such as housing prisoners, should be paid through increased fees and innovative techniques.
Lauzen said the county’s property tax levy has increased 50 percent in the last seven years, greater than the cost of living.
“At some point, we have to make a decision whether government is going to grow faster than incomes,” Lauzen said.
Lauzen said he would begin with zero-based, reality budgeting.
Building consensus
The candidates were asked how they would build consensus on the County Board.
“I don’t believe the limit of consensus building is defined by party labels — the true consensus begins with the vision of the County Board chairman,” Burns said.
Lauzen said his record in Springfield shows he doesn’t stand for “partisan politics.”
Klinkhamer said she would like to see a reduction of County Board seats.
“The County Board is too large and should be reduced to 18 people… You get into fractionalizations and it hurts the process; people should lead by example, not by intimidation,” she said.
Sarto said he walked into the mayor’s office in Carpentersville as “the lone ranger,” yet accomplished balanced budgets and stabilized staff without raising taxes.
Ethics ordinance
The candidates were asked whether the county’s ethics ordinance should be amended.
Lauzen said there is a strong public perception there is no way contractors could send $1.5 million in contributions for two elections without some expectations, and he would create a database to make searches for contributions available to the public.
“Ethics ordinances without teeth are like snow tires without traction,” Lauzen said.
Klinkhamer said ethics complaints should be sent to the state’s attorney.
“It’s disgraceful we don’t have a solid ethics plan in place in the county — we need strong ethical footing to govern by,” Sarto said.
Burns said the County Board should have passed the ethics proposal originally presented and amended it later, and suggested an ethics panel be appointed by the state’s attorney.
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