Batavia Illinois – The 5th Ward

Uncontested Candidate Forums

Kane County Clerk

Candidate Brenda Rodgers, the Democratic nominee, outlined a platform focused on ballot access, voter education, and modernized administrative processes. Highlighting her background on the Elgin City Council and emphasizing the historical importance of voting rights, she presented a continuity plan to expand ongoing initiatives within the clerk’s office.

• Candidate Rodgers: Pledged to expand vote-by-mail dropbox locations across the county.
• Candidate Rodgers: Proposed partnering with high schools, colleges, and universities to encourage student voting and recruit young election judges.
• Candidate Rodgers: Highlighted her successful primary campaign promises, noting that guided tours of the clerk’s office and online ballot tracking have now been implemented.
• Candidate Rodgers: Committed to further modernizing the office to ensure website information remains easily accessible to all residents.

Illinois State Representative District 49

Incumbent Candidate Maura Hirschauer utilized her statement to emphasize her legislative record on public safety and progressive healthcare protections, contrasting her presence at the forum with the absence of her opponent, John Paul Augustinowitz. Framing her fourth-term campaign around active community presence, she promised to shield local constituents from restrictive federal policies.

• Candidate Hirschauer: Highlighted her success in passing Karina’s Law, a measure designed to protect domestic violence survivors, alongside safe firearm storage legislation.
• Candidate Hirschauer: Pledged to aggressively defend access to reproductive healthcare, SNAP, and Medicaid against potential federal cuts.
• Candidate Hirschauer: Emphasized the need to address local affordability for working families and seniors on fixed incomes.
• Candidate Hirschauer: Advocated for responsible environmental standards to manage the rapid growth of the data center industry in the region.

Illinois State Representative District 65

Candidate Ricky Rivard introduced a platform centered on working-class economic relief and expanded social services. Drawing on his background as a realtor, political science professor, and father in a multi-generational home, Candidate Rivard argued for aggressive state-level interventions to offset local property tax burdens and support families navigating high living costs.

• Candidate Rivard: Proposed implementing universal school breakfast and lunch to ensure no child goes hungry.
• Candidate Rivard: Advocated for fully funding public education at the state level to relieve the financial burden currently placed on local property taxpayers.
• Candidate Rivard: Called for accessible childcare and affordable healthcare so constituents are not forced to choose between rent and medication.
• Candidate Rivard: Outlined specific community infrastructure goals, including a new police department building in Geneva, lead service line replacements in St. Charles, and the preservation of open western spaces.

Contested Candidate Debates

Kane County Treasurer

Opening and Closing Statements

• Candidate Chris Lauzen: A CPA, former state senator, and former county board chairman, Candidate Lauzen argued his financial expertise has drastically increased the county’s interest income. He challenged his opponent to three additional debates to thoroughly address the management of the county’s $350 million reserves.
• Candidate Penny Wegman: Currently serving as the Kane County Auditor, Candidate Wegman argued the Treasurer’s office should operate without public drama. She leaned on her record of strengthening internal controls and increasing transparency, emphasizing that safety, compliance, and inter-departmental cooperation are paramount.

Financial Management, Banking Relations & Cybersecurity

A central dispute emerged regarding the county’s banking relationships and the security of its financial data. The candidates offered conflicting narratives regarding the end of the county’s relationship with its long-term operating bank and the mechanisms required to safeguard taxpayer funds.

• Candidate Wegman: Argued that First American Bank terminated its relationship with the county specifically over concerns regarding password security and cash management practices. She stated that basic cybersecurity must start with ensuring unique, restricted passwords for every office user.
• Candidate Lauzen: Firmly denied that the county was fired, characterizing the split as a deliberate move to replace an uncompetitive 22-year contract. He stated the competitive bidding process brought in 18 firms and currently saves the county $650,000 annually.
• Candidate Lauzen: Expressed high confidence in the county’s IT department, citing a 22-year veteran director who maintains a secure “moat” around financial data.

Office Authority, Transparency & Fiscal Results

The candidates clashed over what constitutes genuine transparency and the true scope of the Treasurer’s authority, particularly regarding property taxes and county budgeting.

• Candidate Lauzen: Highlighted his administration’s success in increasing annual interest earnings from an expected $2 million to $20 million. He argued this massive revenue generation directly helps hold the line on taxes by offsetting other budget expenses.
• Candidate Wegman: Countered that the surge in interest income was not unique to Kane County, attributing it to broader macroeconomic interest rate hikes and temporary American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds.
• Candidate Wegman: Stressed that the Treasurer has absolutely no statutory authority to set the budget or lower property taxes, arguing that claiming such authority misleads voters.
• Candidate Lauzen: Defended his implementation of a “100% transparency button” on the county homepage, stating it allows easy public access to 48 different finance committee reports.
• Candidate Wegman: Criticized the button as a superficial gimmick, pledging to remove it and focus on producing reports that residents can actually understand without needing a financial degree.

Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools

Opening and Closing Statements

• Candidate John Jonak: The appointed incumbent and a former history teacher, Candidate Jonak emphasized his operational success overseeing 107,000 students and 9,600 educators. He highlighted a record of cutting the county budget portion by 11% while expanding services, framing his approach as that of a dedicated educator, not a politician.
• Candidate Jerry Cook: A lifelong resident and former high school principal, Candidate Cook positioned his run as a defense of democracy, providing voters a choice in an office that has long run unopposed. He focused on expanding the office’s visibility and addressing systemic inequalities driven by property-tax-based school funding.

Truancy, Mental Health & Alternative Education

Both candidates recognized chronic absenteeism and evolving student needs as critical crises, though they highlighted different strategies for intervention and curriculum relevance.

• Candidate Cook: Identified mental health struggles and economic burdens—such as students caring for siblings—as primary drivers of truancy. He advocated for comprehensive wraparound services and breaking down institutional silos to provide therapy and support directly to families.
• Candidate Cook: Argued that high schools must drastically improve the relevance of their curricula by expanding career pathways and micro-internships to keep students motivated.
• Candidate Jonak: Pointed to recent engagements with the Youth Voices Mental Health Forum to better understand student anxiety. He emphasized the effectiveness of Alternative Learning Opportunity Programs (ALOPs), noting they provide customized environments for students who struggle in traditional settings.
• Candidate Jonak: Highlighted his initiative to provide VR headsets for career training to students in the Juvenile Justice Center, demonstrating alternative paths to engagement.

Facilities Safety & Educator Retention

The candidates addressed the logistical challenges of keeping schools operational, safe, and fully staffed amidst ongoing teacher shortages.

• Candidate Jonak: Noted that many districts have deferred vital maintenance, making structural upkeep a pressing issue. To combat the teacher shortage, he stated his office has expedited licensing and background checks to get teachers into classrooms faster. He also championed “grow your own” initiatives mapping out full licenses for paraprofessionals.
• Candidate Cook: Expanded on facility concerns, noting that while buildings may pass life-safety inspections, severe HVAC imbalances often create freezing or uncomfortable environments that actively disrupt daily learning.
• Candidate Cook: Emphasized the need for administrative support to improve teacher self-efficacy, arguing that unrealistic expectations without adequate tools are driving educators out of the profession.

Illinois State Representative District 83

Opening and Closing Statements

• Candidate Matt Hanson: Finishing his second term, Candidate Hanson emphasized his deep committee experience and role as a Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commissioner. He promised to continue delivering local infrastructure resources and to fight federal policies that threaten Illinois commitments.
• Candidate Jesse Rodriguez: A Navy veteran and small business owner with an MBA, Candidate Rodriguez centered his campaign on responsible government and affordability. He promised to be a fierce advocate for the collar counties, arguing that state resources are disproportionately funneled to Chicago to the detriment of local families and businesses.

State Budget, Economic Development & Taxation

The debate highlighted a sharp philosophical divide over the state’s fiscal health, tax structure, and the business climate required to retain employers in the 83rd District.

• Candidate Rodriguez: Criticized the continuous growth of the state budget, pointing to a recent $800 million tax increase and questioning the state’s reliance on lingering COVID-19 federal funds.
• Candidate Rodriguez: Proposed cutting state funding to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), stating that nearly $16 billion is directed to groups not subject to FOIA accountability.
• Candidate Rodriguez: Condemned the state’s new 4.9% venture capital tax on startups, arguing it penalizes job creators and drives innovation to neighboring Midwest states.
• Candidate Hanson: Countered that the legislature successfully trimmed $650 million from initial budget proposals and achieved 12 credit upgrades.
• Candidate Hanson: Advocated for a future restructuring of the state income tax, arguing that a flat tax is inequitable for working families.

Infrastructure, Transportation & Regional Equity

Significant friction occurred over how the state funds and prioritizes transportation infrastructure, with competing views on the value of the regional mass transit system.

• Candidate Rodriguez: Strongly opposed recent mass transit legislation, characterizing it as a Chicago bailout that dilutes the representation of collar counties while raising taxes.
• Candidate Rodriguez: Criticized tollway increases, warning that the resulting 30% hike in goods transportation and commuter costs will drive residents out of the state.
• Candidate Hanson: Defended the mass transit bill, asserting that a functional transit network is essential to support the Chicagoland area’s $900 billion share of the state’s economy.
• Candidate Hanson: Highlighted his success in securing over $200 million for state and local road projects specifically within the 83rd District over the next four fiscal years.
• Candidate Hanson: Clarified that tollway operations pay for themselves entirely through user fees, noting that those who do not drive the tollway do not fund it.

Voter Resources

For official information regarding voter eligibility, registration status, and secure ballot drop-off options, voters must consult their local election authority. To access the most accurate and up-to-date regional election administration details, such as early voting schedules and polling place lookup, please visit the Kane County Clerk’s Election Information portal.

Candidate Information

Race / Office	Candidate	Campaign website
Kane County Clerk	Brenda Rodgers	electbrendarodgers.com
	John A. Cunningham	facebook.com
State Representative Dist. 49	Maura Hirschauer	votemaura.com
	John Paul Augustinowitz	facebook.com
State Representative Dist. 65	Ricky Rivard	votericky.com
	Dan Ugaste	repugaste.com
Kane County Treasurer	Chris Lauzen	lauzen.com
	Penny Wegman	pennywegman.com
Regional Supt. of Schools	John Jonak	johnjonak.com
	Jerry Cook	kanedems.org
State Representative Dist. 83	Matt Hanson	repmatthanson.com
	Jesse Rodriguez	ballotpedia.org

Author: Jim Fahrenbach

2026 Midterm Elections: Kane County Board, Sheriff, and State Senate Debates