HUNTLEY – Three spots are up for grabs on Huntley’s board of trustees, and there are four candidates looking for a seat.
The contested spots belong to trustees Ron Hahn, John Piwko, and Pam Fender. Fender is currently running for Grafton Township supervisor, and Piwko is campaigning to reclaim his spot.
In addition to Piwko, challengers include Sun City residents Ronda Goldman and Jay Kadakia and Huntley resident J.R. Westberg. The election will take place on April 9.
John Piwko (Photo Provided)
Piwko has served as a trustee since 2007. Prior to his time on the board, he worked in an alderman’s office for the city of Chicago – a position that served about 59,000 people. Piwko said his time working in the city gave him experience to handle diverse issues.
Transportation is Piwko’s chief concern. He wants to see the village become more pedestrian-friendly in his plan for the future. This includes additional sidewalks throughout the village and walking paths or sidewalks connecting businesses along Route 47. Piwko wants to see a commuter train station come to Huntley and said he will continue to pursue that goal.
On Huntley’s growth, Piwko said residents need not worry that the community will sprawl out of control. He referenced the growth around Randall Road as a case study Huntley can draw from.
“Our staff is one of the best that I’ve seen around, and I know that they have their ear to the ground,” he said.
Ronda Goldman comes from an education background, having supervised 17 Chicago Public Schools in her career. In her time in Huntley, she has experience in a wide swath of organizations, from Huntley’s Zoning Board to School District 158’s Financial Advisory Committee.
Ronda Goldman (Photo Provided)
“We’re on the cusp of something great, and I want to be a part of that for the next four years,” she said.
Goldman hopes more businesses that bring in more revenue streams will help to alleviate the property tax burden on residents. At the same time, she said Huntley’s past has to be kept in mind.
“It’s going to be a fine balance between the change that’s going to come and of course the fact that we’re going to have to maintain some history,” she said.
Part of Goldman’s solution to finding balance includes public meetings on the development process and efforts toward preserving history to enlighten both sides. Goldman said whether or not she is elected, she hopes to be a bridge between seniors in Sun City and those in Huntley.
Jay Kadakia (Photo Provided)
Jay Kadakia served on the Village Board from 2007-2011 and also held positions on the McHenry County Groundwater Task Force and McHenry County Council of Governments. During his first term as trustee, Kadakia brought his expertise on water and environmental policy to the board. In this race, he again stresses that the village must pay attention to water as it anticipates growth.
“I’m not going to say that it is going to happen tomorrow or next year, but as our demand increases, we need to provide more sources of water,” he said.
In addition to water supply, Kadakia wants to see Huntley grow in an organized and conscious way. He proposed the idea of a frontage road along Route 47 to help ease potential congestion.
A former environmental engineer, Kadakia would like to see industrial companies that come to Huntley to invest in Huntley High School by helping educate students and prepare them for technical and engineering careers.
“Our talents will not be exported outside Huntley or go somewhere else far away,” he said.
J.R. Westberg said his family and the future he wants for his daughters are what inspired him to run for village trustee. A supporter of the downtown TIF district, Westberg added that he’d like to see the square become more family friendly – perhaps with a dual-use pond and ice-skating rink.
J.R. Westberg (Photo Provided)
A likely discussion for the near future will be managing Huntley’s downtown revitalization and development along Route 47 in a cost-effective way. Westberg said he would need to “make sure that growth is paid for by the developers and not the existing taxpayers.”
Westberg said public safety is another priority of his. He said he wants to make sure not only the police themselves but programs like the Citizen Police Academy and Neighborhood Watch remain fully funded and are able to grow.
“I think that’ll allow the police department to keep a pulse on what’s going on within the various neighborhoods, not just Sun City but all of Huntley,” Westberg said of community groups partnering with the police.
