Strong showing for Democrats in races for Oswego Village Board
Six candidates were vying for three four-year terms on the Oswego Village Board, while two challengers were seeking a two-year term on the board, during the recent election.
Unofficial final results for the race for the three four-year seats show Rachelle Koenig as the top vote-getter with 21.64% of the votes, followed by incumbent Trustee Karen Novy with 20.80% and James Cooper with 20.33% of the votes. All three are Democrats.
The other candidates running for the four-year seats were incumbent Trustee Jennifer Jones Sinnott and former trustees Terry Olson and James Marter, II. The unofficial final vote totals show Olson with 12.77% of the votes, Jones Sinnott with 12.46% and Marter with 12.01% of the votes. All three are Republicans.
'I would like to think it's a reflection of the relationships I have developed and the work I have done on various boards and committees,' Koenig said of the outcome. 'It may also be a reflection of the fact that I strive to find common ground with people as a means to understand each other and work together, regardless of our individual beliefs and ideologies.'
Koenig recently completed her tenure on the village's Economic Development Commission.
'As a business owner and a marketing strategist, I'm continuously focused on business development and growth. There is so much opportunity to create more experiences in Oswego,' she said.
'I may have been the highest vote-getter, but I wasn't the only vote-getter,' she said. 'There are residents who wanted a different outcome. So, not only am I committed to hearing from the people who are happy to see me as a trustee, I also will be seeking out conversations with those who are not. And hopefully, we can find some common ground.'
Novy, who was appointed in July 2023 to fill an unexpired term on the board, said hard work was behind the successful campaign.
'I believe our canvassing and door knocking was the key to the win,' Novy said.
Cooper said while he is gratified by the votes, it did take a concerted effort.
'Campaigning for these important roles is not an easy process, and these numbers could not have been achieved without the support of a community. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the efforts of the Kendall County Dems,' he said.
Cooper said he intends to take what he heard from residents during the campaign to the seat he will hold on the Oswego Village Board.
'After talking with people in the community, I know they care a great deal about bringing in new businesses downtown and supporting those that currently exist,' he said.
Jennifer Hughes, a Democrat, was the highest vote-getter for the two-year term on the Oswego Village Board up for election April 1, garnering 63.10% of the votes, according to unofficial final results, while Lori West, a Republican, had 36.90% of the votes.
Hughes is retiring as Oswego Public Works director. She will be recognized at Tuesday's Village Board meeting, the official day of her retirement, for her years as the leader of the Public Works Department in the village. She was hired in November 2013.
'Although I am retiring from the director's position, my desire to serve Oswego remains. The trustee's position is one way that I can utilize my knowledge of what it takes for a community to be successful,' she said.
Hughes will be recognized by the village as being instrumental in advancing two 'mega projects' in Oswego – the Wolfs Crossing Road widening project and for work to help bring Lake Michigan water to the village in the near future.
'A key difference between being an employee and a trustee is that while the employee can have significant input on policy, it is the Village Board who actually sets the policies. For nearly 28 years of working in municipal government, I have interacted with residents, businesses, developers and boards. The mechanics of government, from budgeting to setting policy, to approving developments and communicating with residents, is second nature. I believe this experience will help the board make good decisions,' Hughes told The Beacon-News.
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