Wheeler Drops Out of County Board Race

One-time Kendall County Republican Central Committee Chair Keith Wheeler has dropped out of the race for county board to focus on professional projects.

"Over these last few days, it became clear to me, as well as to my wife, that due to substantial increases in my project schedule at work (for which I am very grateful), I wasn’t going to be able to devote the time required to keep my work commitments and be an effective campaigner and board member," Wheeler said in a letter posted on his campaign website.  "Therefore, on Wednesday of this week, I withdrew as a candidate for Kendall County Board District 1."

He was the only candidate to withdraw from the race by Wednesday's deadline to be removed from the ballot, Deputy County Clerk Rennetta Mickelson said. That means eight Republicans will appear on the ballot for the District 1 board race. The top five vote-getters will continue to the November election.

In his letter to supporters, Wheeler encouraged promoting new faces on the County Board but did not endorse any specific candidates.

"I wholeheartedly encourage everyone who supported me to pay careful attention to the remaining candidates on the ballot," Wheeler said in the letter.  "Kendall County is in need of reform which you can bring about by electing new board members whose true motivation is public service – the kind that benefits the whole public, not just insiders or fellow board members."

The remaining candidates in that race are:

• John A. Shaw (I), 8270 E. Highpoint Road, Yorkville
• Jeff Spang, P.O. Box 52, Millbrook
• Judy Gilmour, 32 Fox Glen Drive, Yorkville
• John Purcell (I), 458 Landmark Ave., Yorkville
• Suzanne Petrella (I), 1394 Route 31, Oswego
• Matthew G. Prochaska, 50 S. Royal Oaks Drive, Bristol
• Todd Milliron, 61 Cotswold Drive, Yorkville
• Robert "H.D." Davidson (I), 244 Jeter Road, Plano

An (I) after the candidate's names indicates that he or she is an incumbent.