by Linda Willet, KCDW Lead Editorial Writer
On October 20, 2026, Elgin Community College hosted a candidate forum to give students and other community members a chance to hear the positions and viewpoints of several Kane County candidates who are running for county-wide offices. Undersheriff Amy Johnson, who has been in charge of the sheriff’s office for over a year, is running on the Democratic ticket for Kane County sheriff against her opponent, Rob Russell, who is running on the Republican ticket and was previously a sergeant in the sheriff’s office. Penny Wegman, the current Kane County auditor is running on the Democratic ticket for Kane County treasurer against her opponent Chris Lauzen, who is the current Kane County treasurer and running on the Republican ticket.
Amy said her top priorities are recruit/retention of officers and community safety. She also explained that the sheriff’s department has many programs focused on mental health counseling, rehabilitation, and job training so that many of the people who are released from jail can go on to a successful life and not end up in jail again. Rob agreed that the programs are needed, and he said his top priority would be to support deputies because many departments do not have what they need. Rob kept bringing up the point that the sheriff’s department was over budget, but Amy explained that the budget dollars are assigned before union contract negotiations for salaries and healthcare take place every year and the sheriff’s department has to estimate the amount that will be needed for those contracts, which can be greater than the amount originally budgeted.
Lauzen kept talking about the budget shortage too and the amount of the tax bills. Penny reminded him that the treasurer does not have a role in the city budget. The county board determines the budget. Penny also said that the treasurer does not set the value or the rate for the county tax bills. That is done by the township assessor and the Kane County Supervisor of Assessments. It is the treasurer’s job to print, mail, and collect the property taxes and safeguard the funds collected. Penny also brought up First American Bank’s refusal to handle the treasurer’s account in 2023 when the bank stated that security issues and cash management protocol were not up to federal standards (Shaw Local, October 17, 2023). Lauzen stated that the bank was “self-serving” and stated that he found another bank that paid higher interest.
A mobile voting van was also parked outside Building B to give both students and community members a convenient place to vote early. Student leaders introduced the candidates and asked questions that were prepared in advance by students and questions that were obtained from the audience. One relevant student question was “Why should students take the time to vote.” Both candidates answered that students may not think that it doesn’t matter who wins; however, the decisions that candidates make at the local and state level have a major impact on our daily lives. These can include decisions about the money allocated to local schools, community colleges, and state universities, and decisions about money allocated for community services such as housing policies and food insecurity. Some of the candidates mentioned that they had won or lost elections in the past because of a few votes. Every person’s vote counts.
