Amid the din and confusion in Rutland Township in recent years, some silver linings have emerged. Fifteen township residents, some of them currently serving the community, have indicated their willingness to serve, or keep on serving. The ballot voters will receive in the April 4 election will offer a choice for all eight positions in the township’s leadership. Finally, recent controversies have drawn the attention of many more residents. A record number of voters may turn out on April 4 to cast ballots and decide the township’s direction for the next four years.
At least two candidate forums have been presented recently, and another final one is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday March 29, in Sun City’s Drendel Hall. If you’re an early voter, you may already have voted, or you can vote at Prairie Lodge in Sun City from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from March 27 through 30.
A notable exception to the negative atmosphere in recent months was the conversation presented by assessor candidates Janet Siers and Gary Fritz in Sun City’s Drendel Hall on March 8. This was a thoughtful, non-controversial dialog on the duties of an assessor and the assessor’s role in the state’s property tax system.
For voter’s reference and information, here is a list of the township offices, the candidates for each of them, and some information on each office seeker’s background and qualifications. All terms are for four years.
For Supervisor
Incumbent Margaret Sanders and challenger Elden Brauer, both of Sun City. Sanders has served as supervisor for the past eight years, and is seeking a third term. She is a retired school teacher and principal and has served as secretary of the Township Officials of Kane County for six years. She and her husband, Martin, have lived in Sun City for 18 years. Brauer is a six-year resident of Sun City. During a 40-year corporate management career, he worked in and managed employee benefit programs for Aetna Insurance Company. He still works as an independent employee benefits broker. In Sun City, he has been a rep in Neighborhood 32 and has managed a team in the community’s softball league.
For Assessor
Incumbent Janet Siers and challenger Gary Fritz. Siers has served as Rutland’s assessor for 20 years since 1994 and is seeking re-election. She is a 45-year resident of the township and has completed more than 560 hours of continuing education in residential, commercial, and industrial valuation. Fritz has served as deputy supervisor and senior appraiser for commercial, industrial, multi-family, residential, vacant land and special use properties for DuPage County; deputy assessor for Batavia Township in Kane County, and was deputy assessor in Wheatland Township for 18 months. He served as an appointed assessor in Rutland Township for 11 months in 2005-06.
For Clerk
Arnold Klehm and Kathy Rendl. Current incumbent Charleen Carlsen is vacating this position to run for township trustee.
Klehm is a senior executive with the prominent Arnold J. Klehm Growers Inc. family that has operated nurseries and outdoor living establishments in the Chicago area for many years. He has more than 30 years of experience in business management, accounting, and financial controls. Rendl, a resident of Rutland Township for 22 years, worked for 21 years for the Besinger Companies in land development and residential and commercial construction. She was chief financial officer for three corporations during that time.
For Highway Commissioner
Incumbent Howard (Jay) Schultz and challenger Wayne Kaschub. Schultz is seeking a fourth term. He is a 32-year resident of Rutland Township and has been a heavy equipment operator in Chicago area construction and maintenance for 30 years. He served on Good Shepard Lutheran Church’s Board of Properties for seven years. Kaschub is a lifelong Kane County resident and has spent a career operating and maintaining heavy equipment. He is a Rutland Township agricultural businessman and farms all Del Webb-area tillable land and other area acreage.
For trustee (there are seven candidates and voters will select four).
In alphabetical order:
Incumbent Fred Bulmahn, former Rutland Township supervisor (2001-2009), he is seeking re-election to a second term as a trustee. He is a retired CPA and business owner and has lived in Sun City since 1999.
Charleen Carlsen, retiring township clerk (2015-17). A 32-year Rutland Township resident, she also served as township clerk from 2005-09 and served as Gilberts Village Clerk from 1993-95 and village trustee from 1999-2003.
Incumbent Thomas (Ray) Eaton, a resident of Pingree Grove for four years. He was appointed as a Rutland Township trustee in 2015 and is seeking a full four-year term. Eaton is a past commissioner for SEEMA (South Elgin Emergency Management Agency) and was a founding member of that community’s Parks and Recreation Board. He is a graduate of the Pingree Grove Police Academy.
Nicholas Hoffman – A resident of Gilberts for five years, he and his family have been deeply involved with Animal House, Huntley area’s animal shelter. His family has conducted animal rescues and also has cared for dogs in need from northern and central Illinois animal shelters.
Victor C. Keegan – A resident of Carillon in Pingree Grove since 2014, Victor (Vick) has lived in Kane County for the last 18 years. A retired steelworker for 31 years, he was a department steward, grievance committee member, financial officer, and local union president. He is experienced in contract negotiations and team building.
Incumbent John Payson – a township trustee since 2009. He has been a business owner in Hampshire since 1998.
Incumbent Steve Schuldt – A trustee since 2005, he is president of Tessendorf Mechanical Services, an HVAC and plumbing firm that has done business in Sun City. He is a Hampshire resident.
All terms are for four years and seven of them begin in May. The new assessor four-year term will begin on Jan 1, 2018.
