September 24, 2020
Dear editor;
When I watched the candidates for Kane County Board chair speak at the recent election forum, I felt as if they were engaging in two different conversations.
Corinne Pierog was talking about unmet needs, policy ideas, and making the budget serve the needs of the people. She talked about creating a better “end-to-end user experience” for Kane County residents and getting the politics out of budget decisions.
David Rickert talked about his knowledge of operations, long experience as County treasurer, his relationships with department heads, and “willingness to listen and work with people.”
I got a sense that Ms Pierog would leave no stone unturned in understanding the real issues and opportunities (climate change being one), that she would think independently, challenge the status quo, and spark dialogue in open forums where people could make their best contributions.
Mr. Rickert sounded just like a county treasurer. He would steer the budget to “what it can and can’t do for citizens.” Of course he cares about key issues such as wetlands and “will make every effort to give opportunities” to diverse populations. But his focus, in my opinion, was on the numbers and that AA+ bound rating. Probably a good financial manager, not a policy leader.
I guess the question becomes: Who is better prepared to help achieve the best possible outcomes for Kane County? Clearly, one candidate will go out to the larger community and bring knowledge back to the Board, support creative solutions, build bridges, and help us get full value from each dollar. One candidate is passionate about listening, ideas, and problem-solving. I’m excited about what we can achieve in Kane County with Corinne Pierog as chair.
J. Smith, St. Charles