West Dundee village president candidates tout contrasting priorities

Whether it's their political experience or campaign priorities, the candidates for West Dundee village president - incumbent Christopher Nelson and Joseph Connell - couldn't be more different heading into the April 6 consolidated election.

Nelson is vying for his third term as village president while Connell is a political newcomer. And while Nelson wants to build upon the work he's done the last eight years, Connell thinks it's time for someone else to leave an imprint on the town where he's spent his entire life.

"I just want to put my feet out there as a newcomer and say 'Here I am,'" Connell said. "If I lose this time, maybe I will not lose the next time."

In touting his tenure the last eight years, Nelson notes the $275 million in private investment that's come into the village since he took office in 2013. The key, he says, is that it's not all retail.

With retail taking an economic hit over the last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the legacy of Spring Hill Mall hanging over the village, Nelson knows West Dundee must look elsewhere for revenue.

"We can't just strictly focus on revamping retail," said Nelson, a director of government and regulatory affairs with Comcast. "We have to have office and light industrial be part of the solution. We need people working here in town during the day so that they can patronize the restaurants that are here and the stores that are here.

"We have to really recognize that there's a sea change in how local economies work," he said.

Connell says the village must focus on developing downtown West Dundee and attempt to slow down and decrease traffic in that area. He believes if that happens, businesses will fill up empty storefronts and people will feel safer and more comfortable walking around.

One of Connell's main goals if elected is to rid West Dundee of red-light cameras and the corresponding tickets. He doesn't believe the village should punish people financially for minor infractions.

"We don't need this here in town," said Connell, who is self-employed but used to work in the West Dundee public works department. "It doesn't make it feel like a warm town like it should.

"When you see that flash, you know you just spent a hundred and fifty bucks," he said. "And I think that's uncalled for. We don't need to make money that way here in this town."

Nelson counters by claiming fewer than five percent of red-light ticket recipients live in the village and fewer than 30 percent of vehicles flagged for violations actually receive a ticket after the officer review process.

Nelson also cites the investigative value of the cameras in helping with criminal activity.