SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP – Curt Karas, the newly elected Sugar Grove Township assessor, did more than just build a winning campaign to earn a narrow election night victory on April 4. He spent four years obtaining the educational requirements needed to take on the role.
Both efforts proved to be just enough, as unofficial results from Kane County and the Aurora Election Commission show that Karas defeated incumbent Laura Ross by 59 votes, 964 to 905.
In a pre-election questionnaire submitted to the Kane County Chronicle, Karas recounted the effort it took just to be considered for the position.
“Several community leaders asked me to run four years ago, just before the last election. I researched the requirements for the office and found there are special educational prerequisites for the position,” Karas wrote. “During the last four years, I’ve traveled throughout Illinois attending assessor classes, meeting people from various positions in the profession. In 2016, I received the Certified Illinois Assessing Officer Designation through the Illinois Property Assessment Institute.”
Karas, a certified public accountant in Sugar Grove, has spent more than two decades serving local taxpayers, and he said he looks forward to continuing those efforts in his new role.
“As the township assessor, I intend to be easily accessible and open to citizens’ concerns, and work with taxpayers to make sure their property is fairly assessed," he said in his election questionnaire. "I will be a team player working with other members of township and village government.
Neither candidate was available for comment immediately after the election results were posted.