GENEVA ELECTION 2011: Here's a Primer and Overview of the Tuesday Ballot

It's time for Geneva residents to make sure we understand what's at stake and who we're voting for in Tuesday's election.

There are three categories of local, contested elections and one referendum on the ballot for your consideration.

Here's a quick overview and links to previous stories on Geneva Patch.

Probably the most high-profile race of the bunch is for School Board, where six candidates are vying for three open seats.

There are three incumbents and three challengers. The incumbents are Mary Stith, Kelly Nowak and Leslie Juby. The newcomers are Robert ("Larry") Cabeen, George Jackowiec and Mike McCormick.

All are excellent candidates who bring a variety of skill sets from their personal and professional lives. Here are their profiles, written in each candidate's own words:

The issue that divides the candidates is primarily one of emphasis—all agree that financial accountability and educational excellence are the board members' primary responsibilities.

This is a terrible oversimplification, but in their campaign messages, Jackowiec, McCormick and Juby emphasize keeping taxes down while providing a quality eduction. Stith, Nowak and Cabeen emphasize the quality of education while keeping taxes down.

Don't take that oversimplification as gospel. Read for yourself:

Two candidates are vying for a seat on the Park Board. As in the School Board and City Council races, one key decision point is how happy you are with the performance of the government body. If you think the Park District is doing a super job, the incumbent is a good bet. If you think your taxes are too high or that the Park District isn't doing a super job, you might prefer the challenger—if you think the challenger would represent change.

Susan Vander Veen is the incumbent, Sherry O'Berry is the challenger.

• Susan Vander Veen— and
• Sherry O'Berry— and

In the First Ward, three candidates are seeking one open seat. As a decision-maker, you have to determine whether you prefer the longtime incumbent, Chuck Brown, for four more years or Esther Barclay, a longtime Library Board member, or Zachary Ploppert, a young man who promises new energy.

• Esther Barclay— and
• Charles N. Brown— and
• Zachary J. Ploppert— and

There are no incumbents in this one, but there is a candidate who is endorsed by the incumbent, Third Ward Alderman Ray Pawlak, who bowed out to spend more time with his family. This race also is a contest in which one candidate has longtime experience in an elected office and one candidate who promises to bring a fresh perspective and advocacy experience to the office.

• Dean J. Kilburg— and
• Becky Hruby— and

Kane County is asking for your thumbs up for a $30 million open-space referendum that would bring as much as 2,000 acres of land for preservation and park space.

The argument essentially is that there is no better time to get a good bang for the buck. Property values are low, as are interest rates.

A suggests that the annual average tax for this referendum will be around $12 a year per household for 20 years. That is about $1 per month, 25 cents per week for a home valued at $268,000.