Incumbent gets GOP nod
With 210 precincts of 223 reporting election results at press time, incumbent Kane County Board chairman Karen McConnaughay appeared to have secured a place in the November general election.
The Republican, leading the race with 57 percent of the vote, was nearing the end of her first term as board chair, having been elected to the post in December 2004. McConnaughay first was elected to the board in 1993.
"We really enjoyed this campaign," McConnaughay said from Riverside Banquets in Geneva. "It gave me and our county board an opportunity to talk about our vision for Kane County. We're thrilled that the citizens agree with the direction that we've taken."
In a primary campaign that often focused on the county's financial matters, the St. Charles resident has said the county has spent money responsibly.
The bid for county board chairman was Republican James A. MacRunnels' first run for elected office. The Elburn resident is a financial adviser for American General Securities Inc.
Reached at a South Elgin election night party, MacRunnels said he had no concession speech ready.
"Voter turnout is very poor, only 10 percent," he said about 9:30 p.m. "We're hoping those numbers pick up. We're sitting tight."
MacRunnels said his experience throughout the campaign has been a positive one.
"People like the message we were delivering: the message of spending has to end."
Challenging McConnaughay in the Nov. 4 general election will be Democrat Sandy Kaczmarski, 55, of Blackberry Township.
