The ability of Karen McConnaughay to lead Kane County is rooted in nearly three decades of experience as a county resident, parent, small businesswoman and community leader. Since moving to Kane County in 1979, she has raised three children in area schools, owned and operated a pair of local small businesses, organized her neighbors as a grassroots leader, served on the County Board and volunteered for numerous local organizations.
Through those life experiences, McConnaughay knows firsthand that there is no better place to live, work and raise a family than Kane County. She also knows the county’s greatest challenge is to protect our quality of life despite rapid population growth.
Addressing Community Challenges
That is why as County Board Chairman, McConnaughy has worked to bring community leaders together to identify challenges and enact solutions. Under her leadership, Kane County invested more than 80 percent of its budget in improving transportation and public safety, completed the construction of a long-overdue county jail and sheriff’s office, initiated the strengthening of emergency response services and replaced the county finance system to increase accountability.
Just as important, McConnaughay has made fiscal responsibility a top priority and refused to add to the property tax burden facing county residents. In fact, today the County receives just 5-cents of every property tax dollar – down from 7-cents per dollar a decade ago.
Leading by Example
Facing the fastest growing home foreclosure rate in Chicagoland, McConnaughay recently led Kane County in launching Help for Homeowners, a comprehensive public information campaign aimed at alerting residents of services already available to them – including free emergency home foreclosure counseling. Paid for through Riverboat Grant dollars, the campaign and the services highlighted, come at no cost to Kane County taxpayers.
Just as families in the county have had to tighten their belts in a declining economy, McConnaughay imposed a hiring freeze and called on county departments and offices to trim their budgets by 1.5 percent without sacrificing services. McConnaughay also announced she would not accept a scheduled pay raise if re-elected in November, and asked Kane County elected leaders and senior staff members to do the same.
Building Consensus for Solutions
Elected Board Chairman in 2004 with more than 60 percent of the vote, McConnaughay solidified her reputation as a consensus builder during three terms as a County Board member. First elected to represent District #14 in 1992, she worked on more than a dozen committees and served as Chairman of the Transportation, Administration, & Corrections and Rehabilitation Committees. McConnaughay also served for 11 years as a member of the Board Executive Committee.
Working with Our Neighbors
McConnaughay believes that Kane County’s voice plays a vital role in regional planning solutions. Her leadership and commitment to public policy have led her to a seat on the Executive Committee for Metropolis 2020. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning appointed her in 2005 to Chair the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group. In 2008, she was appointed the Co-Chair of the Chicago Olympics 2016 Regional Committee.
Contributing to Our Communities
Her commitment to the community has included volunteer work for the PTO, Girl Scouts, Young Mothers Club, Delnor Hospital Auxiliary and served on the Board of the American Red Cross, Fox River Chapter.
Karen and her husband John live in St. Charles where you will often find her three adult children: Courtney, Garrett, Kate, son-in-law Mitch and granddaughter Abigail joining them for family gatherings.