This spring, DeKalb County voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Early voting has started with voting to conclude on Election Day, April 1.

To vote by mail, go to dekalbcountyclerkil.gov/voting-by-mail/ where applications for vote-by-mail ballots can be found. The last day for the county clerk’s office to accept applications is Thursday, March 27.

Early voting has started at the DeKalb County Sycamore campus’s Legislative Center in the Gathertorium, 200 N. Main St.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Friday, March 21, and then everyday from Saturday, March 22 through Monday, March 31. On Wednesday, March 19, early voting will close at noon for County Board meeting.

Early voting is also available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. everyday through Friday, March 28, at the Kingston Friendship Center, 120 Main St. in Kingston; DeKalb Township Building, 2323 S. Fourth St. in DeKalb; Northern Illinois University’s Holmes Student Center in the Gallery Lounge; and the Sandwich Public Library, 925 S. Main St. in Sandwich.

Below are all competitive races in DeKalb counties with candidate questionnaires and coverage as available. This voter guide will be updated if additional candidates submit their questionnaires and more coverage completed.

Table of Contents

MUNICIPALITIES

City of DeKalb

Mayor

Linh Nguyen: Candidate questionnaire

Kouame M. Sanan: Candidate questionnaire

John B. Walker: Candidate questionnaire

Cohen Barnes (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Our coverage: “DeKalb mayoral candidates lay out priorities ahead of April election”

“What is DeKalb’s ‘most neglected problem?’ Here’s what mayoral candidates say”

“Should DeKalb enact a local grocery tax? Mayoral candidates weigh in”

“DeKalb mayoral candidate voices concerns over new bus routes”

“DeKalb mayor candidates weigh in on taxes, business growth”

“DeKalb mayoral candidates weigh in on taxes, business growth, role of city committees at forum”

“Listen to DeKalb election candidate pitches: League of Women Voters, WNIJ Radio release audio clips for prospective voters”

Video: “DeKalb mayoral candidates forum with Daily Chronicle”

Audio and transcript: “DeKalb mayor candidates address top ideas for the city”

Listen to our podcast for an interview with Walker or read the transcript.

Clerk

Lynn Fazekas: Candidate questionnaire

Steve Kapitan: Candidate questionnaire

Bradley Hoey: Candidate questionnaire

All candidates are running write-in campaigns.

Our coverage: “2 former clerks, 1 newcomer seek election to DeKalb’s long-suffering City Clerk’s Office”

Video on YouTube: DeKalb City Clerk virtual candidate forum with Shaw Local

Video: Meet DeKalb City Clerk write-in candidates

Audio and Transcript: Listen to a podcast of Shaw Local’s candidate forum for write-in DeKalb City Clerk candidates or read the transcript of the forum here.

Alderperson Ward 2

Barbara Larson (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Michael Embrey: Candidate questionnaire

Video: “DeKalb City Council Ward 2 candidates talk top issues”

Listen to Larson and Embrey discuss the issues on our podcast or read the transcript.

Our coverage: DeKalb Ward 2 candidates talk roundabouts, public safety

Alderperson Ward 4

Justin Carlson: Candidate questionnaire

City of Sandwich

Mayor

Colton Otto: Candidate questionnaire

Rick Whitecotton

Todd K. Latham (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Alderperson Ward 1

Matt Chunn

Phyllis Wallington

Alderperson Ward 2

Genelle Inman

Rebecca Johnson (write-in) (incumbent)

Our coverage: “Alderwoman running write-in campaign after being bumped off Sandwich ballot”

Alderperson Ward 4

Donald Danko (write-in)

Rebecca Nelson (write-in)

City of Sycamore

Alderperson Ward 4

Robert W. Dancey: Candidate questionnaire

Virginia Sherrod (incumbent)

Town of Cortland

Mayor

Douglas Corson: Candidate questionnaire

Mark Pietrowski Jr. (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Our coverage: “Meet the candidates vying to be next Cortland Mayor”

Trustee, Vote for 3

Victoria Haier

Michael Siewierski (incumbent)

Jim Walker (incumbent)

Randi Olson (incumbent)

Village of Lee

Trustee, Vote for 3

Justin Post

Mitchell D. Hamm

Amber Otterstrom

Garet Galbreath

Village of Shabbona

Trustee, 4-year term, Vote for 3

Kallan Welsh

Joshua Snyder

Joy Fay (incumbent)

Allison Kidd Probst (incumbent)

Mark Stanley

Trustee, 2-year term, Vote for 1

David Simpson (incumbent)

Frank Ottengheime

Village of Waterman

Village President

Anton G. Feitlich

Peter Robinson (incumbent)

Trustee, Vote for 3

Raymond Calhoun

Sarah Radtke (incumbent)

Corey Wade

Taylor Edward-Jay

TOWNSHIPS

Afton Township

Trustee, Vote for 4

Jack Walker

Eric Christensen (incumbent)

Craig Donnelly (incumbent)

Julie Barr (incumbent)

Steve Schramm (incumbent)

DeKalb Township

Supervisor

Mary Hess (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Jim Luebke: Candidate questionnaire

Kingston Township

Supervisor

Ken Peterson (incumbent)

Kristine Arsenault

Deborah L. Todd

Sandwich Township

Supervisor

Dennis J. Miller (write-in)

Ashley Murphy (write-in)

Assessor

Jim Miller

Sheila A. Johnson (incumbent)

South Grove Township

Supervisor

Lisa Bergeron

Barbara Koehnke

Squaw Grove Township

Highway Commissioner

Andrew Bark

Joshua P. Jungels

Peter Niles

PARK DISTRICTS

DeKalb Park District

Commissioner, Vote for 3

Doug Eaton (incumbent)

Dag Grada (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Michelle Foster: Candidate questionnaire

Tia Anderson: Candidate questionnaire

Dean Bourdages: Candidate questionnaire

Franklin Township Park District

Commissioner, Vote for 2

Garry Willit (incumbent)

Steven Boettger (incumbent)

Christopher Brantley

Jennifer Block (incumbent) is running unopposed for a four-year term.

Sycamore Park District

Commissioner, Vote for 2

Victoria Books: Candidate questionnaire

Chad Jewett: Candidate questionnaire

Denise Ackmann (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

LIBRARY DISTRICTS

Earlville Public Library

Trustee, Vote for 3

Deborah Larson

Kathleen Eager (incumbent)

Mary Bender (incumbent)

Stephanie Eller

Sandwich Public Library

Trustee, Vote for 3

Elsie Campbell Morrissey

Nancy Schroeder

Jane Wolf (incumbent)

Heather Lee (incumbent)

Matthew Jones (incumbent)

Sheila Thompson (incumbent)

No candidate has filed for an open two-year seat.

Somonauk Public Library

Trustee, Vote for 4

Christopher J. Gresk (incumbent)

Marilyn Abbott (incumbent)

Thomas J. Harmon (incumbent)

James Beal

Kathleen Rhoden

Gina Skofich (incumbent)

Kinsay Smith

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Rochelle Township High School District 212

Board member, Vote for 4

Janet Kacvinsky

Joel Thompson (incumbent)

Martin W. Ravnaas Jr. (incumbent)

Robert Chadwick (incumbent)

Trisha Vaughn

Paw Paw School District 271

Board member, Vote for 4

Daniel Truckenbrod

Steven B. Richey (incumbent)

Joshua Sarver (incumbent)

Jennifer Kern

Anthony W. Corda Freeland

Community School District 300

Four-year term, Vote for 3

Christine Birkett (Dundee) (incumbent)

Emmanuel Thomas (Dundee) (incumbent)

Patrick Malia Jr. (Dundee): Candidate questionnaire

Alisa “Lisa” Lindmark (Hampshire)

Aaron Kelly (Hampshire)

Gianena Winkler (Rutland)

No more than two candidates can be elected from the Dundee area.

Two-year term, Vote for 1

Leslie LaMarca (Rutland) (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Central School District 301

Two-year term, Vote for 1

Andrew Dogan (41N Range 8E - Elgin)

Junaid “J” Afeef (41N Range 7E - Plato) (incumbent)

Four-year term, Vote for 3

Ryan Wasson (41N Range 6E - Burlington) (incumbent)

Dornetria Hemphill (41N Range 8E - Elgin) (incumbent)

Scott Mrkvicka (41N Range 8E - Elgin)

Marc A. Falk (41N Range 7E - Plato) (incumbent)

PK Parekh (41N Range 7E - Plato)

Roumiana McMahon (41N Range 7E - Plato)

Micheline Welch (41N Range 7E - Plato)

Kelli Cameron (41N Range 7E - Plato)

Graciela Martinez (41N Range 7E - Plato)

Not more than two candidates can be elected from the 41N Range 8E Elgin area and not more than two can come from the 41N Range 7E Plato area.

Kaneland School District 302

Board member, Vote for 3

Addam Gonzales (40N Range 7E - Campton) (incumbent)

Jennifer Simmons (40N Range 7E - Campton) (incumbent)

Scott Stalcup (38N Range 7E - Sugar Grove)

Aaron Lawler (38N Range 7E - Sugar Grove) (incumbent)

Only one board member can come from the 38N Range 7E Sugar Grove area.

Genoa-Kingston School District 424

Board member, Vote for 4

Dean Gudeman

David Cleveland

Max Jake Wesner

Amber Eberly

Aiden Simmons

Matt Krueger (write-in) (incumbent)

Our coverage: “Meet the Genoa school board candidates”

Sycamore School District 427

Two-year term, Vote for 1

Christian Copple (40N Range 5E - Cortland) (incumbent)

Four-year term, Vote for 4

Michael DeVito (41N Range 5E - Sycamore) (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Jonathan “Cole” Regnery (41N Range 5E - Sycamore): Candidate questionnaire

Eric Jones (41N Range 5E - Sycamore) (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Heather Tomlinson (40N Range 5E - Cortland): Candidate questionnaire

Alan Zantout (40N Range 5E - Cortland) (incumbent)

No more than two candidates can come from either area.

Our coverage: “How do Sycamore school board candidates plan to address aging buildings?”

Video: Sycamore School District 427 candidates talk campaigns with Shaw Local

Podcast: Listen to Shaw Local’s virtual candidate forum for Sycamore School District 427 school board candidates or read a full transcript of the interview here.

DeKalb School District 428

Board member, Vote for 3

Marilyn D. Parker

Jose Jaques: Candidate questionnaire

Nicholas Atwood: Candidate questionnaire

Brandon J. Elion: Candidate questionnaire

James W. Mitchell

Twangie Smith: Candidate questionnaire

Howard Solomon: Candidate questionnaire

Erin Grych

Kristin Bailey

Stephen Gaffney

Derek Shaw: Candidate questionnaire

Mark Charvat is running unopposed as a write-in for a two-year term.

Our coverage: “DeKalb school board hopefuls talk book banning”

“How would DeKalb school board hopefuls address academic achievement?”

“DeKalb District 428 school board candidates talk DEI”

Photos: DeKalb School District 428 candidates participate in forum

Listen to our podcast to hear DeKalb School District 428 board candidates debate.

Video: DeKalb District 428 school board candidates talk top issues in virtual forum

Sandwich School District 430

Board member, Vote for 3

Erik D. Englehart (incumbent)

Candace Oropeza

John Morse (incumbent)

Traci Griffin-Lappe

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS

Sandwich Fire Protection District

Trustee

Judd Weber

Justin Gifford

Bill Novicki

Jacob Johns

REFERENDUMS

Remove geographic restrictions for Sycamore School District 427 board members

Our coverage: Sycamore school board sends failed referendum back to voters. Here’s what to know

Add new property tax for South Grove Township retirement costs

Increase South Grove Township property tax limiting rate

Approve $140.274 million in building bonds for Kaneland School District 302

Our coverage: “Kaneland referendum to improve safety, security and learning environments”

Increase Shabbona Fire Protection District property tax limiting rate

Establish Flewellin Memorial Library District, expanding boundaries to include all of Shabbona Township and the village of Lee