Bill Keck to seek GOP nomination for 50th District

SUGAR GROVE – Retired Kane County auditor Bill Keck has announced he will join the race to fill the vacancy to be left by Kay Hatcher in the Illinois House.

Keck, a 74-year-old Sugar Grove resident who retired in December after five terms, or 20 years as county auditor, said he would like to try to help the state address its crises.

Calling himself “a voice for fiscal responsibility,” Keck said he would come out of retirement to run for office.

“I understand county operations,” Keck said. “I’d have to translate that to state operations. I am concerned that we have crisis problems. I am one person, but if I can make a difference, I’d like to try.”

Keck is a CPA and a graduate of Notre Dame.

In a prepared statement, Keck said he is running because of his concern “about the sorry state of affairs in Illinois state government and believes his understanding of government operations can help restore sanity.”

Keck would join a growing chorus of GOP hopefuls in the March 18 primary after Hatcher, R-Yorkville, announced she would not seek re-election.

Last month, Oswego businessman and former Kendall County GOP Chairman Keith Wheeler said he would seek the Republican nomination for the state’s 50th House District, which covers much of southwest Kane County and northern Kendall County.

Wheeler, 46, operates Responsive Network Services, an IT consulting firm that he founded in 1991.

Two other declared candidates are Beth Goncher of Aurora and Julie Cosimo of Oswego. Goncher served as legislative aide to State Rep. Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia, for 12 years. Cosimo is an administrator at Benedictine University in Lisle.