Burns, Lauzen at odds over chairman’s job

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Kevin Burns, candidate for Kane County Board Chairman, greets Kane County voters on Thursday February 16, 2012 at the 55th annual Lincoln Day Dinner in Aurora IL. | Terence Guider-Shaw~For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: March 21, 2012 8:15AM

While the Democratic race for Kane County Board chairman has been relatively low key, the Republican contest between Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and longtime State Senator Chris Lauzen of Aurora has been heated from the start.

With two experienced campaigners — who are both often seen as polarizing figures — it was no surprise that the sparks flew on the GOP side.

But putting aside personality conflicts, the race to replace board Chairman Karen McConnaughay has largely centered on the county’s tax rate, whether to hire an administrator and whether the county needs an economic development department. McConnaughay, a Republican, has said she will not endorse anyone.

Although the chairman rarely votes on issues, he is typically seen as a party leader and political voice for the county. He or she can influence hiring, has input on the day-to-day business of the county and sets the public agenda for spending the county’s $250 million budget.

The Burns-Lauzen winner will likely be the general election favorite in a county that usually votes Republican. Two former mayors, Sue Klinkhamer of St. Charles and Bill Sarto of Carpentersville, are running for the Democratic nomination. The were both profiled in The Beacon-News Sunday.

Kevin Burns, Republican

Since his first public policy class at Augustana College, Kevin Burns has liked to figure out how systems work — or don’t work — and then try to make them better.

That public service focus has been the centerpiece of his campaign for Kane County Board chairman. Burns, Geneva mayor since 2001, has touted his experience as an administrative leader. As mayor, he said he helped eliminate regulations that hampered downtown development (parking fees) and built a consensus among council members.

Burns says this work is a significant difference between himself and his opponent in the March 20 primary, State Sen. Chris Lauzen. Burns says being a chief executive of a city translates well to county chief executive, unlike working in Springfield. Burns said he has more experience building consensus, which he says is crucial in local government.

The Burns-Lauzen campaign has become heated, with Burns jabbing his opponent on everything from congressional endorsements to family values. Burns said he’s tired of what he feels are backhanded personal attacks on his character — Burns is divorced — and has begun referring to Lauzen as Senator Innuendo.

“I respect someone who tells it like it is,” he said. “There’s no need for allusions and synonyms. I’ve got weaknesses I wear on my sleeve. ... I look forward to the day when we an have passionate, forthright, transparent policy discussions and after that say: ‘Are we going for sandwiches?’”

Burns’ candor has always been his strength and weakness. But he said it is part of a strategy to demystify government and invite more people in. He insists on being called “Kevin” rather than “mayor.” His light nature can throw people off at first, but Burns said while he often jokes about himself, he’s very serious about his job.

Burns supports hiring an economic development director for the county, but not an administrator. He would not promise an across-the-board ban on raising the county’s tax levy, calling it unrealistic. Burns has pointed out that residents have shown they are willing to spend money on things they believe in, like open-space referendums.

“I don’t like paying taxes. I don’t want to pay any more taxes than I have to,” he said. “What I want is a good return on my money.”

Burns did not identify specific areas where cuts should be made, but he said he would look at every area of the county and ask: “Is it central to the core issues to what the county should be doing?” For instance, Burns would be open to partnering the county’s animal control with another agency that already handles most of the same issues.

If elected, Burns promises to continue to reach out to residents and business leaders, as he has in Geneva.

“Kane County goes from adolescence to adulthood in the next 10 years,” he said. “We have to have someone in that chair who’s ready to handle these responsibilities. I have that experience.”

Chris Lauzen, Republican

Although he has spent almost two decades in the State Senate, Chris Lauzen said it was an easy decision to run for Kane County board chairman.

He said he chose to retire from the Senate and seek the chairman’s job for two reasons: he thought he was a good fit and he thought the county needed change.

“I think the critical mass is here for improvement. Folks are ready for it,” he said.

Since he announced his intentions, Lauzen’s campaign has been focused on a promise to freeze the county’s tax levy, which he says has unfairly outpaced the county’s growth and any cost-of-living increases.

“It makes no sense to me that our property values keep going down but our taxes keep going up,” he said.

Lauzen has not targeted any specific items in the budget that he’d cut or trim, but he has pledged to see what best practices are working in other counties, and bring them to Kane County. The biggest problem, he says, is one of cronyism. Lauzen made waves early in the campaign when he distributed lists of McConnaughay’s campaign contributions, saying too many of the same people got county contracts.

Lauzen said the biggest challenge facing the county in the next 10 years is restoring trust in institutions. He admires McConnaughay’s efforts at transparency, but said the county needs to go further to make financial information more readable.

As part of freezing the levy, Lauzen is opposed to adding an administrator to the county, calling it an unnecessary layer of government that might start as one person but would soon become an expensive staff. And he believes that with his experience as a public accountant, he will be more than capable to handle economic development issues, although he is willing to call on help if he needs it.

To his supporters, Lauzen’s greatest strength as a state senator has been his unwavering adherence to his core beliefs. Lauzen admits that has been a weakness at times, too. Lauzen said he recognizes the difference between the roles of state legislator and administrator.

“The role of a legislator is to tug at the rope so you upset the center of gravity,” he said. “The role of an administrator is to bring peace.”

Lauzen feels his career in Springfield has given him solid relationships with state and national people who can help bring more dollars back to Kane County.

Burns has said Lauzen is giving him backhanded insults, but Lauzen feels he has stuck to his campaign pledge not to slam his opponent.

“I have absolutely no interest in talking about him,” he said. “This is too important. That’s like, silly political stuff... I know some people like the conflict. I think it should be just the opposite. I think you should calm the water.”

Lauzen depicts the Republican race as grassroots reform vs. the establishment. While he recognizes that a 20-year state senator distancing himself from the establishment can seem odd, Lauzen says he’s always worked against the grain.

“I’ve been fighting hard against entrenched interests since the very first day, and I intend to fight until the last day that I represent people,” he said.