The upcoming election for the Kane County Board District 3 seat features a contest between incumbent Democrat Anita Lewis and independent candidate Guy Bodie. With no Republican contender, the focus is on the issues brought forth by both candidates.
Anita Lewis: Priorities and Concerns
Anita Lewis, 68, from Aurora, is campaigning for her third term. She highlights inflation, affordable housing, and immigration enforcement as key issues for voters. According to Lewis, rising gas prices and tight budgets compel many residents to seek assistance from food pantries. Housing challenges persist despite dual-income households, making it difficult for families to afford decent apartments, let alone homes.
“Getting a place for a residence – even an apartment – is difficult, absolutely,” Lewis emphasizes.
Concerns about ICE immigration actions also prevail, particularly for undocumented residents. Lewis acknowledges the fears of community members who may be separated from their families due to immigration enforcement.
If reelected, Lewis aims to work on economic development, address ICE-related issues, and enhance communication with constituents. She emphasizes the need to lower taxes through economic growth, working with the economic development group in Kane County.
“I believe that in order to keep our taxes down…we need to work on or focus on economic development,” shares Lewis.
She also aims to establish a more effective communication system with residents, proposing newsletters or forums to address their needs.
Guy Bodie: New Aspirations
Guy Bodie, 59, also from Aurora, enters the race for the first time with a focus on tax concerns and data centers. Residents express a desire to keep taxes low while generating revenue through means other than taxation. Bodie suggests auditing commercial properties to ensure accurate valuations.
Data centers are another topic of interest for voters, who demand more transparency and information from county leadership. Bodie supports a moratorium on such centers until more informed decisions can be made.
Bodie’s plans include promoting energy-efficient, affordable housing for new buyers and hiring a full-time grant writer for the Kane County Health Department. He advocates for preserving farmland and endorses sustainable development.
“We don’t want to use all of our farmland for larger developments,” Bodie remarks. “We need to preserve our lands…for future generations.”
Bodie cites Habitat for Humanity projects in Aurora as examples of energy-efficient housing suitable for new homeowners and seniors facing financial constraints.
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