Competitions abound in upcoming Boone County elections

By Bob Balgemann

REPORTER

Lots of people have stepped up and want to be involved in local government.

There will be plenty of competitions on April 4, in races for seats on the Belvidere City Council, Capron, and Poplar Grove village boards, and school districts 100 and 200.

Belvidere Township will have a primary in February. There, five Republicans are in the running for four board seats. They are incumbents Kathy Grover, Richard Nelson, and Bob Turner, along with Jim Culvey and Ron Wait.

Whoever wins the primary will be elected to four-year terms as the Democratic Party didn’t slate any candidates during its caucus on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Nor did any Independents file during the recent nominating period, which ended Monday, Dec. 19.

Incumbent Bill Robertson stepped down as trustee when he was appointed supervisor, replacing Patrick Murphy who died unexpectedly in office in September. Robertson now is running for a full four-year term with opposition from Diann Helnore, an Independent. They will meet in April.

Helnore was a Democrat while serving one term as Belvidere Township assessor; she lost her bid for re-election in 2013.

There also will be a primary for township road commissioner. Republican candidates are Joe Cavney, Russell Moore, Nick Reininger, and Shane Treu. The winner will go against Independent Kenneth McBee on April 4.

Longtime Township Commissioner Rich Lee has decided not to seek re-election.

The City of Belvidere will have a busy April 4 what with contests in six of the eight available offices.

Incumbent Mayor Mike Chamberlain has drawn opposition from the current city treasurer, Frederic C. Brereton Jr. He is the son of the former longtime mayor, Frederic C. Brereton Sr., who decided not to seek re-election four years ago.

The mayoral candidates will oppose each other in the February Republican primary election.

That’s also true in Ward III, where incumbent Alderman Tom Ratcliffe will go up against Daniel A. Hulina. In Ward V, incumbent John Sanders is being opposed by Christopher Berner, a former Boone County Board member. Independent Marsha Freeman will face the winner of Berner-Sanders on April 4.

The following offices will be decided on April 4. That includes city clerk, where incumbent Shauna Arco is running against challenger Joanne “Josie” Riley; in Ward I, pitting David A. Deckert against Independent Tom Porter; and in Ward II, where incumbent Republican Daniel J. Arevalo is being opposed by Independent Michael J. Borowicz.

In District I, incumbent Clint Morris is not running for re-election.

Republican Cory Thornton, candidate for city treasurer, is unopposed as is incumbent Ward IV Alderman George Crawford, a Republican.

Shy one candidate

While some had more candidates than openings, that was not the case in North Boone Community Unit School District 200. There, three qualified for the board, but four seats are coming open.

Those in the running are incumbent Matt Ellingson, the current board president; Tom Kinser, returning after a brief absence as he retired a couple of years ago; and incumbent Tom Moon, who is concluding his first term.

Two other incumbents, Don Ward and Brian Reininger, chose not to run again. Ward was on the board for many years and served as president most of that time.

In Belvidere Community Unit School District 100, there are four upcoming vacancies on the board and as many candidates. The list includes incumbents Robert Torbert, the current president; Karla Maville, current vice president; and members Kelly Diamond, and Stacy McGowan.

City, villages

The Village of Capron has 10 candidates for a variety of offices.

Incumbent Village President Josephine Cavaliere is going for re-election with Conrad Lobinski in the mix and Jason Kruckenberg looking to return to the position he held for one term, which ended in 2013. He did not run for re-election.

There will be many new faces on the Poplar Grove Village Board as incumbent President John Neitzel and incumbent trustees Don Bawden and Judi Zangs have decided not to run again. That’s also true of longtime Village Clerk Martha Suhr.

Current Trustee Owen Costanza is the only candidate for village president.

There will be competition for the three village board seats with four candidates in the running. They are Eric Miller, Sophia Ramdass, Erin Walsh, and Edward Wethington. Karri Anderberg is unopposed for village clerk.

Stephen M. Rapp is unopposed in his bid for re-election as village president in Timberlane. The same is true of incumbent Village Clerk Debra Warner. But, there only is one candidate for three upcoming vacancies on the village board. He is James R. Wehrle.

Among those running in the Village of Caledonia are incumbent President Rod Fritz; incumbent Clerk Sue Pfaffinger; and incumbent Treasurer Rae Duncan. Incumbent Steven Barrack does not plan to seek re-election.