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Kane County Chronicle

Brenda Rodgers takes Democratic primary for Kane County Clerk: Unofficial results

If certified as winner, Rodgers will take on incumbent Republican John “Jack” Cunningham

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Editor’s note: For the most updated Election Day results and news coverage, visit our Election Central webpage.

With all precincts reported, Democratic candidate Brenda Rodgers is likely to win her party’s nomination for Kane County Clerk, if unofficial results hold.

The winner of the March 17 primary election will go on to challenge incumbent Republican John “Jack” Cunningham, who ran unopposed.

Cunningham has served as the Kane County Clerk since Dec. 2002. He previously served as an Aurora City Commissioner.

Rodgers primary opponent is Democrat candidate Brian Pollock.

With mail-in ballots still to be counted, Rodgers is leading Pollock 22,722 votes to 18,282. This gives her a 55.41% to 44.59% edge over her opponent.

Results will be certified in two weeks following Election Day.

Rodgers is a realtor who previously served on the Elgin City Council.

“I will focus on ensuring residents understand the services available through the Clerk’s Office and that funds are used responsibly and transparently,” Rodgers previously told Shaw Local News.

Rodgers said increasing transparency includes making sure the budget is posted and easy to find on the website.

She said if elected she would not seek additional funding or staffing for the office.

She said she will ensure all equipment works on election night, including preventing freezes that she said happened on a previous election night.

“I will not mislead residents about my job title or my work in the office,” Rodgers said. “I will work to ensure the Elgin location is approved for passport services and that residents are aware we have a branch in the area.”

Her opponent, Pollock, of Aurora, has served nine years within the Kane County Clerk’s Office. Pollock has experience as an attorney and was previously a Kane County Board Member.

Pollock previously told Shaw Local that his priorities in office would be increasing transparency and communication, protecting voting rights, increasing accessibility, and providing excellent customer service while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

“With nine years of experience as second in command, I’ve represented the Clerk’s Office at the county, state, and federal level,” Pollock previously said. “I’ve created budgets which kept the office under budget every year and secured millions in external grants to protect county taxpayers.”

Pollock said he is proud of helping to implement technological upgrades in the office. This includes vote by mail processing equipment, a ballot tracking system, new voting machines, and a wait time tool.

If elected, Pollock said he would promote the safe and responsible use of AI to synthesize information and automate some processes that he argues will save the office time and money. He said any new AI must be used wisely to protect residents’ data.

Pollock said he will continue being “aggressive in securing grant funds” for the office to help ease the burden of levy increases on taxpayers. He said the office has recently experienced staff leaving for other counties due to salary disparities. Pollock said this must be remedied while remaining fiscally responsible.

If elected, Pollock said he will continue combating misinformation that he said fosters distrust in our elections.

He also said he would continue protecting and expanding voting rights, especially in light of the Trump Administration’s threats to eliminate vote by mail and early voting options that Pollock said are used by more than 60% of the county’s voters.

“I’m proud to have written language passed by the state legislature to expand voting rights in Illinois,” Pollock said.

Check back for updates.

Joey Weslo

Joey Weslo

Joey Weslo is a reporter for Shaw Local News Network