Election season is here: Races to watch in Kane and DuPage counties
There will be a handful of contested primary races in DuPage and Kane counties, but most candidates will have a clear path to the general election.
Voters in Kane and DuPage counties will cast ballots in March to decide who moves on to the November election. The state's attorney, coroner, circuit court clerk, auditor, recorder of deeds and select county board members in both counties are up for election in 2024.
The weeklong filing period for candidates ended on Monday. The recorder of deeds seat in both counties drew the most attention.
A three-way race will decide who becomes the Democratic nominee for the recorder position in DuPage. Meanwhile, Democrats in Kane will determine which of the two candidates for recorder moves on to the general election.
Lynn LaPlante, a two-term incumbent on the DuPage County Board, faces a challenge from Christine "Christy" Maes in the Democratic primary. LaPlante, who represents District 4 on the county board, said she's no stranger to contested primaries, noting she's faced opponents during two previous elections.
"I'm very excited to be running for my third term," LaPlante, a Glen Ellyn resident, said last week.
District 4 includes Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn and Wheaton.
Maes currently serves on the Glenside Public Library District board.
"I am running for DuPage County District 4 to give a voice to working families like my own," said Maes, who lives in Glendale Heights.
DuPage County Democrats also will decide who gets the nod to move on to the November election for coroner, where Jeffrey Jacobson and Judith Lukas are seeking their party's backing.
There are no contested races in the Republican primary for DuPage County offices or board seats.
In Kane County, three incumbent Republican county board members face challengers in the primary. In District 12, incumbent Bill Roth is being challenged by Michelle Geen. Incumbent Mark Davoust faces Jonathan Gripe in the Republican primary for District 14, and incumbent Michael Kenyon faces Eric Stare in District 16.
Democrats Brenda Rodgers and Marisela Villegas are seeking their party's backing to challenge Republican Sandy Wegman for recorder of deeds in the November election. Incumbent Democrat Ron Ford faces a challenge from Sonia Garcia in his bid to be reelected to represent District 6, and incumbent Verner (Vern) Tepe faces Randy Hopp in the Democratic primary in District 22.
Illinois' primary election is on March 19.
Who's filed in DuPage and Kane counties
DuPage County State's Attorney
Robert Berlin, Republican*
County Auditor
William "Bill" White, Democrat*
Bob Grogan, Republican
Coroner
Richard Jorgensen, Republican*
Jeffrey M. Jacobson, Democrat
Judith Lukas, Democrat
Recorder
Kathleen Carrier, Democrat*
Elizabeth (Liz) Chaplin, Democrat
Peter "Pete" DiCianni, Democrat
Nicole Prater, Republican
Circuit Court Clerk
Candice Adams, Democrat*
Jeremy "Jaye" Wang, Republican
County Board District 1
Cynthia Cronin Cahill, Republican*
Maria Sinkule, Democrat
County Board District 2
Andrew Honig, Democrat
Laura Hois, Republican
County Board District 3
Lucy Chang Evans, Democrat*
Baron Leacock, Republican
County Board District 4
Lynn LaPlante, Democrat*
Christine "Christy" E. Maes, Democrat
County Board District 5
Patricia "Patty" Gustin, Republican*
Saba Haider, Democrat
County Board District 6
Greg Schwarze, Democrat*
Joe Soto, Republican
Forest Preserve District 3
Linda J. Painter, Republican*
Lester Vaughan, Democrat
Forest Preserve District 4
Jeff Gahris, Democrat*
Jeff Castle, Republican
Forest Preserve District 6
Al Murphy, Republican*
Rick Gieser, Democrat
Kane County Board Chair
Corinne M. Pierog, Democrat*
Lance Bell, Republican
County State's Attorney
Jamie Mosser, Democrat*
Andrew Sosnowski, Republican
County Coroner
L. Robert (Rob) Russell, Republican*
Monica Silva, Democrat
County Circuit Clerk
Theresa E. Barreiro, Democrat*
Anthony L. Catella, Republican
County Auditor
Penny Wegman, Democrat*
Gretchen Butler, Republican
County Recorder
Sandy Wegman, Republican*
Brenda Rodgers, Democrat
Marisela Villegas, Democrat
County Board District 2
Dale Berman, Democrat*
Ellen Nottke, Republican
County Board District 4
Mavis Bates, Democrat*
Donald "Buzz" Foley, Republican
<span class="fact box text bold">County Board District 6</span>
Ron Ford, Democrat*
Sonia Garcia, Democrat
County Board District 8
Michelle Gumz, Democrat*
County Board District 10
William J. Tarver, Democrat*
Laura Curtis, Republican
County Board District 12
Bill Roth, Republican*
Michelle Geen, Republican
Ricky Rivard, Democrat
County Board District 14
Mark Davoust, Republican*
Jonathan Gripe, Republican
Brenda Engelhardt, Democrat
County Board District 16
Michael J. Kenyon, Republican*
Eric Stare, Republican
Ted Penesis, Democrat
County Board District 18
Richard L. "Rick" Williams, Republican*
Sandy Kaczmarski, Democrat
County Board District 20
Cherryl Fritz Strathmann, Democrat*
County Board District 22
Verner (Vern) Tepe, Democrat*
Randy Hopp, Democrat
David W. Teas, Republican
County Board District 24
Jarett Sanchez, Democrat*
*= incumbent
Source: County clerk offices