Elgin Township Democratic Candidates
Municipal Election: April 1, 2025
Elgin Township residents will vote on Local races in the 2025 Municipal Election.
Township Candidates
Elgin Township Forward
The Elgin Township Forward Democratic candidates are running to ensure that ALL residents of Elgin Township are treated FAIRLY, EQUALLY and PROFESSIONALLY.
Vern Tepe | Supervisor
- Member of the Kane County Board
- Previous Township Trustee
- Retired Business Executive
- Active in Elgin Public Health
Lois Swatscheno | Clerk
- 45 Years as a Telecommunications Engineer
- Managed an Annual Budget of $24 Million Dollars
- Elected Precinct Committee Woman
- Officer of Kane County Democratic Women
- Director of the League of Women Voters
Lois Swatscheno, a retired telecommunications engineering manager, is running for Elgin Township Clerk to promote transparency and community engagement. With nearly 40 years in the telecommunications industry, including managing a $24 million budget, she brings strong organizational and financial oversight skills as well as a strong sense of civic engagement.
Her political involvement began after the 2016 election, leading her to co-found and serve as treasurer for the Kane County Democratic Women, as well as work with the League of Women Voters on voter registration initiatives.
Swatscheno’s key priorities as clerk include making township meetings and financial information more accessible, fostering community engagement through quarterly events, and ensuring all residents have a voice and access to county services.
She urges voters to choose her for her commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and effective governance.
Janice Bennett | Trustee
- Longterm Resident of Elgin
- Over 30 Years Working in Insurance
- Keen Eye for Risk and Risk Management
- Served 20 Years as a Precinct Committee Woman
- Previous Treasurer of the Executive Board
Janice Bennett, a longtime Elgin resident, is a retired insurance professional with over 32 years of experience at Zurich Insurance Company. After serving as a precinct committee woman for 20 years, she is now running for Elgin Township Board Trustee to support key community services, particularly senior programs and mental health initiatives, both of which she views as essential for independence and well-being.
If elected, Bennett aims to protect funding for nonprofits amid potential federal budget cuts, and increase government transparency by making township meeting recordings available online. She also hopes to enhance community engagement through events like job fairs and business forums, ensuring residents are more aware of township services.
Bennett is an approachable and empathetic leader, valuing diverse perspectives and community interaction. She believes her down-to-earth nature, thoughtful decision-making, keen eye for risk and risk management, and commitment to public service make her a strong candidate for the Elgin Township Board.
Ed Hanson | Trustee
- Served Elgin as Firefighter for 29 Years
- Devoted Father and Husband
- Served as Steward for Local 449
- Volunteer Boys & Girls Club
- Volunteer Cal’s Angels: Pediatric Cancer Charity
Juan Silva | Trustee
- Owner of Electronic Recycling Company
- Proud Mexican American 40 Years Elgin Resident
- Non-Profit with a Focus on Low Income Familes
- Devoted Husband and Father of 3 Children
Juan Silva, a proud Mexican American and longtime Elgin resident of 45 years, is running for Elgin Township Board Trustee to increase community awareness of township services, particularly within the Hispanic community. As the owner of an electronics recycling company and a non-profit with a focus on low income families, he brings business expertise and a strong sense of community.
Inspired to run by Vern Tepe, Silva sees this role as an opportunity to better serve residents and promote engagement with township resources.
His priorities include learning the township’s financial processes, ensuring grant funds are properly allocated, and advocating for senior services, mental health support, and educational programs for children. He also aims to enhance resources for small business startups, helping entrepreneurs navigate registration and funding opportunities.
Silva envisions success as a trustee through visible improvements in township programs, increased community involvement, and overall resident satisfaction. He encourages voter participation and asks for support based on trust in his character and commitment to service rather than political affiliation.
Carl Strathmann | Trustee
- Former Army Medic
- Successful Career AT&T as a Service Engineer
- Retired Small Business Owner
- Chair of the Township Democrats
- Member of the Seniors Committee
Carl Strathmann is a dedicated community member and political leader running for Elgin Township Board Trustee. With a background as a Vietnam-era medic, a long career at AT&T, and experience running his own business, Carl brings a wealth of professional and leadership experience. He’s served as a precinct committee person and chairman of the Elgin Township Democrats for nearly a decade, and is a current member of the Seniors Committee for Elgin Township.
If elected, Strathmann will focus on community engagement, transparency, and enhancing services for seniors. He advocates for recording township meetings to increase public access and improving the township’s facilities to make them more functional. He supports expanding programs like the Seniors Café and the senior pass program while optimizing township resources, such as better utilizing an existing passenger bus for senior transportation. Strathmann believes in the power of grassroots efforts and community-building, stressing that local involvement is key to making meaningful change.
They want to expand business, employment, and training opportunities by providing assistance for those who want to create or grow small businesses, make sure that the Mental Health Board is – FINALLY – producing results, record meetings and make those recordings available online, publish township financial data online, ensure that the Senior Committee is operating well, maintain a positive relationship and communications with the Assessor and Road Commissioner, and continue the Senior Lunch and Pet Food Programs.
Our candidates want to fix the harm done to our community by the current GOP township board:
- Fired Mental Health Board (2021) – on the incorrect basis that it was illegally created
- Scrambled to create NEW MHB (2022) when law was corrected by legislature
- Levied $40,000 for MHB (2023) – That fixed & limited Levy at $40,000. They were subsequently ‘saved’ by State Legislature passing a law to fix their mistake
- Requested (& received) $500,000 from Kane County’s ARPA (Covid) Funds for Mental Health Board– should have financed out of Township Reserves
- Asked Horrible & Inappropriate Questions of several Non-Profits during Spring 2022 Youth Funding Meeting!!! As a consequence, YWCA received NO FUNDING that year,
- Continue to appoint ‘Political cronies’ to committees – David Teas & Sylvia Schrage for example (appointed after they filed to run for political office)
The Democratic plans start with this list:
- Continue to Broadcast Township Meetings = BUT -WILL RECORD & PUBLISH ONLINE!
- MAKE TRUSTEE PACKETS AVAILABLE ON-LINE (includes financial reports)
- PUBLISH FINANCIALS – PARTICULARLY RESERVE BALANCES
- Schedule Four (4) – TOWNSHIP WEEKEND EVENTS – each year – to promote & improve lives of Township Residents – on topics like – “How to Start a Small Business”
- CELEBRATE AN INDIVIDUAL’S UNIQUENESS – regardless of origin, sex, or political views.
- Continue Senior Lunch Program (is paid for by Federal funds)
- Continue PET FOOD & SUPPLY Program (is financed by donations).
Volunteer Opportunities
Our team needs your help to get elected! Join us every Saturday leading up to the election. Illinois State Senator Christina Castro’s office, 164 E. Chicago St, Elgin, IL 60120. Volunteer times start at 11am. We’ll be making phone calls to voters and canvassing neighborhoods.
Please send your donations to:
ELGIN TOWNSHIP FORWARD
c/o Janice Bennett
335 S Commonwealth
Elgin, IL 60123
Non-Partisan Races
Here’s a list of candidates for non-partisan races that our members are supporting.
City Council
- Diana Alfaro
- Dustin Good
- Erik Bosque Pena
- Corey D. Dixon
Gail Borden Library
- Hidayat Khan
- Amy Prochot
- Elisa Lara
Elgin School District U-46
- Melissa Owens
- Veronica Noland
- Dawn Martin
Elgin Community College
- Melissa Barbosa-Guzman
- James George Allen, Jr.
A palm card for the upcoming election!
Print it off and take it to the polls.
Feel free to copy and share wherever you like.
Referendums
Kane County Government has put a referendum on the April 1, 2025 ballot for a sales tax increase. The intention is to raise funds to support public safety in our county; including our sheriff & courts, the coroner, the circuit clerk, 911, and the Office of Emergency Management. Click the images below for more info.
Vote Yes!
These important dates have been copied from the Kane County election website: https://clerk.kanecountyil.gov/Elections
Find Your Polling Place
Request Vote By Mail Ballot
Thu Jan 02 2025*
*Ballots will not be sent until Fri Mar 07 2025
Issue Vote By Mail Ballot
For Military/Overseas
Fri Mar 07 2025 – Mon Mar 24 2025
For All Other Vote By Mail
Fri Mar 07 2025 – Thu Mar 27 2025
Last Day to Register to Vote
Tue Mar 04 2025
Grace Period Registration & Voting
(At Kane County Elections Main Office & Aurora Satellite)
Wed Mar 05 2025 – Mon Mar 31 2025
Early Voting Period
(At Kane County Elections Main Office & Aurora Satellite)
Fri Mar 07 2025 – Mon Mar 31 2025
Permanent Sites – Early Voting Period
(All Early Voting Polling Places)
Mon Mar 17 2025 – Mon Mar 31 2025
Last Day to Count Vote By Mail & Provisional Ballots
Tue Apr 15 2025
