Non-incumbents garnered the most votes in both Kendall County Board districts Tuesday while incumbents Anne Vickery and failed to earn Republican nominations.
The Republican primary, which asked voters to select five of the eight candidates running in each district, means the county board will have at least five new members after the November election. Three incumbents chose not to seek re-election.
Yorkville resident who ran for county board unsuccessfully two years ago as an independent, said she had no real way of knowing she’d do so well. Gilmour earned 18 percent of the ballots cast in District 1, while Oswego resident earned the same percentage in District 2.
“I think it’s really a mandate that people want change,” Gilmour said.
Throughout the primary, she emphasized that the county board should take a conservative approach to the finances and balance the budget without raising taxes. If elected, she plans to consider the entire county, not just her district, she said.
“There’s two district in the county,” she said. “There’s municipalities; there’s rural areas. I (would) represent everybody.”
In District 2, Gryder said the votes he received affirmed that his messages emphasizing updating infrastructure and maintaining a balanced budget is on-point.
“Time after time, I’ve heard people say that, 'We don’t have the luxury of raising taxes or dipping into fund balances to balance our budget and we think the county should do the same,'” Gryder said.
He also wants to raise the level of decorum at county board meetings, which sometimes include outbursts when a member disagrees with a vote outcome or less-than-friendly banter.
“As the saying going, we can disagree without being disagreeable,” Gryder said.
Incumbent , of Oswego, came in second with 15 percent of the District 2 vote. He and his four fellow Republican nominees will compete with three Democrats for five seats in the November election – and he's not assuming it will be an easy battle.
“I’m still going to have to work hard,” said Koukol, who was elected to his first term about 14 months ago.
By comparison, Vickery has served on the county board for 14 years.
“I’m completely shocked that she didn’t make it,” Koukol said. “She worked hard.”
Scroll down for comments from Vickery, Gilmour and County Board Chairman John Purcell.
Unofficial vote totals for Kendall County District 2
Kendall County Aurora Election Commission Total Percent Scott Gryder 2692 105 2797 18% Dan Koukol 2189 109 2298 15% Jeff Wehrli 2017 109 2126 14% Jeremy Swanson 1891 81 1972 13% Lynn Cullick 1699 88 1787 12% Michael Becker 1592 107 1699 11% Anne Vickery 1548 123 1671 11% Thomas McWilliams 1079 80 1159 7% Total 14707 802 15509
Unofficial vote totals for Kendall County District 1
Votes Percent Judy Gilmour 3909 18% John Purcell 3121 15% John Shaw 3047 14% Robert Davidson 2486 12% Matthew Prochaska 2432 11% Jeffrey Spang 2275 11% Todd Milliron 2039 10% Suzanne Petrella 1977 9% Total 21286
Updated about 10 p.m.
Minooka resident Anne Vickery has been on the Kendall County Board for 14 years. But she didn't make it past Tuesday's primary.
When reached on her cellular phone, Vickery congratulated the candidates who won and acknowledged the people who supported her over the years.
"I've always been thankful for the voters who supported me," she said.
She pointed to a last-minute mailing by a group called “Kendall County Citizens for Honest Government" that contained a few inaccuracies. When asked who she thought was behind it, Vickery laughed and said: "the usual suspects."
"It was my turn in the barrel with the big guns," she said.
She estimated they spent $8,000 to $10,000 on the effort but vowed not to complain about her opponents.
"The best revenge is to live well," Vickery said. "And I can afford to live well."
Updated about 9:45 p.m.
"Judy Gilmour for president of the board!"
That's the shout that evoked instant cheers at the Kendall County Republican Central Committee's election night party around 9:30 p.m. It had become apparent that Gilmour was the top vote-getter in District 1.
The current county board chair, John Purcell, said her numbers caught his attention.
"Anyone who wins by 800 (votes) in this type of election, (catches my attention)," Purcell said. "She worked hard; I'm pleased for her. I think she'll be a wonderful addition to the board."
When asked if she had ambitions to become the next board chairman (which is elected among the county board members themselves), Gilmour chuckled.
"I'm ready to serve in whatever capacity I'm asked," she said.
Posted about 12:30 p.m.
Tonight we'll found how just how much the faces of the Kendall County Board could change.
The 10-member board has five representatives from two districts. In District 1, ; only four are incumbents. The top five vote-getters in this primary will face off with Democrat , of Yorkville, in the November election.
District 1 includes current county board chairman , as well as incumbent , during the campaign.
In District 2, , but only three are incumbents. The incumbents are , who has been outspoken against housing horses at Ellis House and Equestrian Center; , who has supported the horses there; and Anne Vickery, who chairs the county board's Animal Control Committee. Ellis House and Equestrian Center in January.
Animal Control came under scrutiny this summer when a bull mastiff bit a child in the face. Then-Warden Christine Johnson when it really had been adopted to a family. T, and the county hired a new warden.
The five Republicans nominated in the District 2 primary will face off against three Democrats - Evelyn Maxine Givens, Herman Johnson, and Kristine Heiman, all of Oswego - in the November election.
You should both resign now and get off your throne before you are further flushed down the toilet. Neither of you made the right vote on redistricting or other issues for the betterment of Kendall County residents. Judy Gilmour was the highest vote getter in the county and later this year the other County Board Members should do the right thing and make her the County Board Chairperson. If not, let the wayward County Board Members think about voter sentiment on this issue in the next election 2 years away. John Purcell is not qualified to be County Board Chairman.
"Another incident cited was the first board meeting after the 2010 election, when the board picked is new chairman. That night, the board took 45 roll call votes that were 5-5 ties before Vickery, who was the incumbent chairman, and John Purcell, the eventual chairman, came to an agreement to break the logjam. The mailing intimates it was Vickery alone who created the stalemate. The mailing also says Vickery referred to voters as “stupid, ignorant morons” during a Feb. 4, 2010, discussion on whether the board chairman should be elected by other members of the board, or directly by the voters. A record of the meeting shows Vickery did not use those words." That meeting was a plain ole battle of the sexes night. Stuff like the second paragraph is unprovable yet some don't care as long as they get their turn at the carcass. Whatever Vickery is perceived to have done and whoever she presumably did it too, this kind of low class dirty tricks tactic should make everyone of us who want a better political climate in the county cringe. If the rumor mill is correct about possible sources the guilty party (ies) outta clean the poop out of their own closets and move on. As to the same nasty crew on Patch who rip everyone they can, you contribute nothing of value to society by your choice of constant negativity. Perhaps you just like to get your name in print.