The Kane County Board is again seeking applications to fill a vacancy on its 24-member board, this time for its District 9 seat.
The candidate appointed to the seat would serve until November, when a board member will be selected by voters.
The seat was previously held by Gary Daugherty, who was elected to represent District 9 — which encompasses the northwest corner of Kane County, including portions of Hampshire, Huntley, Pingree Grove and Elgin — in 2022.
Recently, however, Daugherty said he would be resigning before the end of December, citing illness as the reason for his departure. That leaves the county board with its second vacancy in recent months.
With Daugherty’s term set to expire in November 2026, three candidates have already filed to run for the seat during the 2026 election, according to the Kane County Clerk’s Office: Republican candidates Jennifer Abbatacola and Jeffrey R. Magnussen and Democratic candidate Marc A. Guttke, all of Hampshire.
But, in the meantime, the county board is seeking someone to fill the seat until the upcoming election.
A candidate for the seat has to live within the district and be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, a member of the Republican Party since Daugherty is a Republican and a resident of Kane County for at least a year, per the county.
According to state statute, a vacancy on the board needs to be filled within 60 days of it occurring, with the new member appointed by the county board chair with “the advice and consent” of the board.
The county currently has another vacancy on its board too – its District 2 seat, formerly held by Dale Berman, who died in October at the age of 91.
The board sought applications for Berman’s seat and made several attempts to appoint someone to fill the position until it’s up for election in the fall of 2026, but ultimately failed to vote in a candidate in November. The situation prompted some concern from board members about the transparency of the selection process and the board’s procedure for appointing candidates.
The District 2 seat still remains vacant, a county spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday. The board can leave that position vacant until the election, or could still bring up a resolution to fill Berman’s seat, but it would be outside of the 60-day timeline outlined in state statute.
As for the District 9 seat, individuals looking to apply for the appointment can submit a cover letter and resume by email to tallitschjane@co.kane.il.us or by mail or in person to the Kane County Board office at 719 S. Batavia Ave. in Geneva, per the county. Applications are due by Jan. 14.
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/kane-county-board-district-9-vacancy/
