Contested Race in Kane County Board District 3

The Nov. 3 election for the Kane County Board District 3 features two candidates: incumbent Democrat Anita Lewis and independent challenger Guy Bodie. No Republican candidate is in the race for this district.

Background of the Candidates

Anita Lewis, aged 68 and hailing from Aurora, is running for her third term. She emphasizes the community’s worries over inflation, affordable housing, and ICE immigration enforcement. Lewis points out, “Gas is expensive, making budgeting difficult.” Many must resort to food pantries.

Lewis addresses the housing dilemma, stating that even dual-income families struggle to find affordable apartments or homes. Additionally, concerns about ICE have intensified in her community, particularly with the wellbeing of children whose parents might suddenly be detained.

If re-elected, Lewis aims to focus on economic development, tackle ICE-related issues, and improve communication with residents. She mentions her role on the economic development board and her desire to work with business retention and community colleges.

Regarding ICE, Lewis expresses a desire to help her neighbors feel secure and to instill plans should disruptions occur. She also aims to improve dialogue with her district through newsletters or forums, encouraging constituents to raise issues.

Guy Bodie, 59, also from Aurora, is a first-time candidate. He highlights concerns over taxes and data centers in District 3. Bodie reflects on residents’ desires to maintain low taxes without increasing revenues through taxation, suggesting a thorough assessment and audit of commercial properties.

Bodie’s Focus Areas

On data centers, Bodie claims that residents desire a moratorium due to a lack of transparency and information from county board members. He insists that decision-makers are not forthcoming with data, leaving constituents uninformed.

If elected, Bodie intends to prioritize energy-efficient, affordable housing for new buyers, employ a full-time grant writer for the Kane County Health Department, and ensure sustainable development. He speaks of the need to protect farmland and looks to local examples like Habitat for Humanity in Aurora as models for energy-efficient homes for new buyers and seniors.

David Sharos reported the story for The Beacon-News.