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Politics & Government

It's Election Day in Geneva. Vote

Today is your chance to let your voice be heard, via your vote. Don't be silenced.

The word for today, Tuesday, April 5? Vote.

It’s Election Day, 2011. Here in Geneva, we will go to the polls to select representatives to help oversee our city government, our schools, our Park District and our library, among other entities.

Whether you have children in the public schools, whether you utilize the offerings and facilities of the Geneva Park District or save money on books and movies by borrowing them from the library instead of buying or renting them from a store is somewhat beside the point. If you own property within these districts, your property taxes support them. If you’re a renter, well, part of your rent goes to pay the property taxes that support these entities.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Upset about something related to city government? If you live in the First or Third wards, I hope you’ve read up at least a little bit about some of the issues facing the city of Geneva and want to vote for the aldermanic candidate who best represents your views.

Everyone, it seems, has an opinion on how the Geneva School District should spend its money—and it consumes the lion’s share of the property tax bills that should be arriving around May 1. Six people are running for three spots on the Geneva School Board and www.geneva.patch.com, plus local newspapers have had many stories outlining various issues and candidates’ positions on them. 

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Want to spend money on open space, preserving it for recreational use (and preventing it from being developed)? The Forest Preserve District of Kane County wants permission to spend $30 million to acquire and preserve forests and open space. Officials estimate it would cost average homeowners less than $15 a year to purchase up to 2,000 acres of land, and point out that with land prices at near-record lows, now is the perfect time to make these purchases. 

Here’s a list of what’s on the ballot in Geneva (with names in alphabetical order):

Geneva School Board: Three spots open; six candidates running

Robert Cabeen, George Jackowiec, Leslie Juby (incumbent), Kelly Nowak (incumbent), Michael McCormick, Mary Stith (incumbent)

Geneva Park District Board of Commissioners: One spot open; two candidates running

Sherry O’Berry and Susan VanderVeen (incumbent)

Geneva City Council

• First Ward: Esther Barclay, Charles Brown (incumbent), Zachary Ploppert

• Third Ward: Becky Hruby and Dean Kilburg, to replace Ray Pawlak

Incumbents Robert Piper, Dorothy Flanagan and Craig Maladra are running unopposed for re-election in the Second, Fourth and Fifth wards. 

Geneva Public Library District Board of Trustees: four spots open; four candidates running

Donald Cummings (incumbent), Pat Johnson Lord, Travis Ketterman (incumbent) and Susan Shivers

Election Day is your chance to let your voice be heard. But you have to cast a ballot in order to make an impact. Vote.

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