Endorsement: Kane County Board Chairman: David Rickert

For Kane County Board Chairman, both David Rickert and Corinne Pierog have good proposals for going forward – but in different directions and visions for the county and for their role as chairman.

Pierog points out that the current leadership’s adherence to a property tax levy freeze has resulted in what she called “cracks” in the county budget, which is compounded by increasing costs to payroll, insurance, retirement and commodities.

But she does not support raising taxes.

Neither does Rickert, a CPA with 20 years of experience as the county’s treasurer. As Rickert rightfully notes, due to financial hardships the county’s citizens face during the pandemic, he would oppose a tax rate increase in 2021.

Both Rickert and Pierog note the chairman’s role in county government.

Rickert and Pierog describe the chairman’s job as supervising the implementation of the board’s policies and programs; chairing and scheduling the meetings, preparing agendas; creating an annual report and annual budget presented to the board.

But Pierog plans to consider hiring a county manager.

The issue of a county manager – or administrator – has come up behind the scenes during the current chairman’s fractious relationships with various department heads and other elected officials as a way of running the county in an nonpartisan way.

We think that’s a good idea, but not one that can be contemplated just now with a $14 million-plus deficit looming in the county’s budget.

Pierog has experience as an elected official, having served two terms as a member of the St. Charles District 303 school board. She owns a management consulting firm, serves as first vice-chair of Age Guide of Northeastern Illinois and is a former member of the St. Charles Housing Commission. She is the founding chair of the Kane County Democratic Women, currently serving a second term.

Rickert has a master’s degree in accounting; Pierog has an MBA.

But Rickert has more experience with county government, having worked with staff, board members, department heads and elected officials.

In anticipating tough times ahead in the midst of the pandemic, we think practical experience is needed in the next term. Rickert is endorsed.