WINNEBAGO COUNTY — The Winnebago County Board will have a new, slimmer look following the Nov. 6 general election. The board voted in 2011 to switch to 20 single-member districts from the 14 districts with two members.
The move will reduce the total number of supervisors by eight.
The makeover begins March 20 with the primary vote. Although the spotlight will be on the Republican presidential primary that also takes place that day, three area county board Republican races in the Stateline News readership area, along with the county board chairmanship, will be up for a vote.
Here are profiles of candidates that responded to requests for information from the Stateline News:
Chairman
Mike Castronovo
Age: 59
Address: 6812 Harrison Ave., Rockford
Job: Owner/chief engineer of Studio B Digital Recording, founded 1981.
Education: St. Anthony Catholic Grade School in Rockford, graduated in 1966; Boylan High School in Rockford, graduated in 1970; Rock Valley College, two years; one year liberal arts and one year automotive training, 1971-’73.
Community service: Member RAMI Association (Rockford Area Music Industry), former seven-year member (two-time vice president), EARS Engineering and Recording Society of Chicago, former two-year member (one year public relations director) and Rockford Corvette Club.
Previous public office: None.
Major campaign issue: The issue is the need for new county leaders not influenced by special interest groups. Incumbent county officials who are more concerned with special interests often become blinded to community needs. This violates citizen trust and results in issues like the loss of jobs, Chicago garbage dumping, loss of free speech at board meetings, unwanted asphalt plant re-locations, wind farms, unnecessary roundabouts, etc. The issue for the March Republican Primary is the need for a new county board chairman and some new county board members to take our community in a new direction.
Scott H. Christiansen
Age: 58
Address: 5740 Kelley Road, Rockford.
Job: Winnebago County Board chairman
Education: High school diploma; various courses/training in project management, business administration, accounting, sales and marketing
Community service: Alpine Lutheran Church, four-term congregational president; Lutheran Ministries (RALM)-founding member and former vice president; Lifescape Capital Drive; Chamber of Commerce; Rotary Downtown; Northern Illinois Food Bank; Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful; Freedom Field; Winnebago County 9/11 Emergency Responders Memorial Committee, executive officer; University Club; LLL Club; N.I.B.C.A. Association of General Contractors; National Roofing Contractors Association; Home Builders Association Board.
Previous public office: County board chairman from 2004 to present, board member from 1984 to 1988 and from 1990 to 1999. Precinct committeemen from the 1980s to the 1990s
Major campaign issue: Jobs, economic development and crime are the urgent issues before us. We must maintain a skilled workforce. Post secondary education and career training are critical to our future. Caseloads in our court system create ongoing challenges. The new court and case management system is a vital tool in improving efficiencies.
District 2
Ed Schmitt
Age: Not given
Address: Rural Durand
Job: CEO of Total Waste Recycling
Education: Bachelor of science degree in wood and polymer chemistry, and M.S. in paper science and engineering from the State University of New York at Syracuse University.
Community service: Deacon, chief financial officer, Los Gatos Christian Church, administration board chairman, deacon, small group leader at Faith Community Church in Davis, Ill.
Previous public office: President of Willow Bay Home Owners Association.
Major campaign issue: I have spent the last 30-plus years managing and running businesses. Throughout this time, I had no choice but to trust politicians and our government(s) to do what is in the best interest of the people they served. However, I have come to realize that left unchecked, there will never be an end to increased government intrusion into every aspect of our business and personal lives. Now, at this point in my career, I feel compelled to step up and apply my hands-on business experience in an effort to make some impact toward reducing and reversing the growth of government. I am for lower taxes, less regulation and less government telling us how to live.
Jim Webster
(The candidate did not respond to a request to submit a questionnaire.)
District 3
Gary L. Kovanda
Age: 58
Address: 231 Echo Drive in Rockton
Job: Attorney; former assistant state’s attorney, deputy state’s attorney, first deputy state’s attorney, Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office for more than 29 years.
Education: Bachelor of arts degree in political science, Valparaiso University 1976; J.D. Valparaiso University School of Law 1979.
Community service: Old Stone Church Board of Deacons chairman and past moderator; Rockton Food Pantry volunteer; Former Den Leader Pack 619 and assistant scoutmaster Troop 619; Hononegah Booster Club member and volunteer.
Previous public office: Trustee for Talcott Free Library District, from May 2009 to present
Major issue: To hold the line on costs, while still providing the essential government services required. To do so, we must work with other units of local government and attempt to combine services. We must also seek increased economic development opportunities, which will foster job creation and provide needed property tax relief.
Steve Schultz
Age: 46
Address: 10404 Monarch Road, No. 3; Roscoe
Job: Vice-President of finance and operations, Converge Worldwide (headquarters for a group of 1200 churches).
Education: bachelors of arts in business (accounting and finance emphasis), Bethel University, St. Paul, Minn., 1988; master of business administration, Northern Illinois University, 1999.
Community service: Past president and treasurer, Winnebago County Citizens for Controlled Growth chairman, Growth and Annexation Committee, 2030 Land Use Plan, past church chairman, church elder, worship team, nursery worker, Temple Baptist Church, Rockford. Current membership at Hope Evangelical Free Church in Roscoe.
Previous public office: Winnebago County Board member, District No. 2, from December 2008 to present.
Major campaign issue: I have been an outspoken representative of the interests of the citizens of my district and of Winnebago County, versus the special interests from both sides of the aisle that have a powerful influence on how our county government operates and who benefits from the decisions they make.
District 4
Patty Austin
Kyle Logan
(The candidates did not respond to a request to submit a questionnaire.)
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