Libraries that are not for a single municipality are governed by elected Library District Boards.
They are spread all over McHenry County, with the exception of the Crystal Lake and Harvard area.
Crystal Lake and Harvard have the only city libraries.
They are governed by Board members appointed by its City Council.
Areas outside of the city can get library cards whose price is based on the tax rate levied on city residents for the library multiplied by their homes’ assessed valuation. For folks in my Village of Lakewood, that makes library services voluntary. If a family wants them, they pay a fee. If they don’t, they avoid the fee.
Or those in the McHenry County College district can use that institution’s library.
Those within Library District boundaries are subject to that district’s taxes.
Below are the candidates running for Library District Trustees in McHenry County.
Full terms run for six or four years (a decision made by library boards). When someone resigns before full terms are up, an interim appointment is made and, then, an election is held for the remainder of the term.
An examination of the following openings and candidates shows about a half dozen library boards don’t have as many candidates as there are openings.
These spots with no candidates are excellent places for those who wish to dip their toes into the body politic.
There are two requirements:
- File a Declaration of Candidacy for Library District Trustee with the McHenry County Clerk’s Office by February 5th. You can find a copy of that Declaration here.
- Get at least one write-in vote. Of course, if more than one person is running as a write-in, you would want to get significantly more than one vote…if you want to win.
Algonquin Area Library District
Six-year term (2 openings)
- Louise A. Nee
- Katrina McGuire
- Janice Baker Kelsch
- No second candidate
Barrington Library District (2 openings for six-year terms)
- Denise Tenyer
- Denise Devereux Peters
Cary Library District
Six-year term (3 openings)
- Kelly J. Kuningas
- Scott F. Migaldi (Incumbent)
- Thomas Garvin (Incumbent)
- Janet M. Polep (Incumbent)
- Teresa M. Sigsworth
Four-year term (1 opening)
- George England
Fox Lake Library District
Six-year term (2 openings)
- Barbara J. Fatta (I)
- Carolyn Vanco (I)
Four-year term (1 opening)
- Marilyn G. Borgman (I)
Fox River Grove Library District
Six-year term (3 openings)
- Michael Campbell (I)
- Lauren Rosenthal
- No third candidate
Four-year term (1 opening)
- No candidate
Huntley Library District
Four-year term (4 openings)
- Leslie Threadgill-Smith
- William Jorgensen
- Ann Christiansen (I)
- No fourth candidate
Johnsburg Library District
Six-year term (3 openings) –
- Madelyn F. Diedrick
- No second or third candidate
Four-year term (1 opening)
- Karen Gustafson
Marengo-Union Library District
Six-year term (4 openings)
- Desaree Sieriens
- Paul Garcia
- No third or fourth candidate
McHenry Library District
Six-year term (2 openings)
- Monica Leccese
- Charles Reilly (I)
Four-year term (1 opening)
- Margaret Carey
Two-year term (1 opening)
- Bradley Schubert
Nippersink (Richmond-Spring Grove) Library District
Four-year term (3 openings)
- Sandra Peterson (I)
- Michelle Carter
- No third candidate
River East (McHenry-Nunda) Library District
Six-year Terms (2 openings)
- No candidates
Rural Woodstock Library District
Six-year term (3 openings)
- Jan Vanderspool (I)
- Stacy Iwanicki (I)
- Marty Sobczak
Four-year term (1 opening)
- Richard Johnson (I)
Wauconda Library District (1 two-year and 3 four-year terms)
Four-year term
- Ernest W. Kosty (I)
- Terry L. Srevig (I)
- Virginia S. Muller
- Rebecca Coolidge
- Mary Hultquist (I)
Two-year term
- Sandra Deubel