Name: Emmanuel Thomas What office are you seeking: Kane County Board Member, District 23 What is your political party? Candidate did not answer What is your current age? 56 Occupation and employer: Retired federal employee and U.S Navy veteran What offices, if any, have you previously held? Former member, community unit Distict 300 Board of Education City: Algonquin Campaign website: thomasforkane.com Education: Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice,Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Management,Master’s degree in education/Curriculum. Community involvement: My community involvement includes five years of service on the District 300 Board of Education, service as an AAU youth coach, veteran’s advocacy, and community service. I am also a U.S. Navy Desert Storm veteran and have spent decades in public service. Marital status/Immediate family: married with (7) children and (13) grandchildren
What are your top three priorities for this district?
My three priorities are fiscal responsibility, government accountability and transparency, and responsible economic and infrastructure development. I believe county government should carefully manage taxpayer dollars, control unnecessary spending, maintain essential public services, and make financial decisions in an open and transparent manner. I also want Kane County to pursue responsible development while ensuring that infrastructure, public safety, transportation, and the long-term interests of residents remain central to those decisions.
Why are you running for office?
I am running because I believe my background in public service, management, education, and the military gives me experience that can contribute to the County Board. After 37 years of government service and five years on the District 300 Board of Education, I understand the responsibility that comes with managing public resources.
My goal is to bring accountability, fiscal discipline, transparency, and practical decision-making to county government. I want residents to have a strong voice in decisions involving taxes, spending, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development.
Do you support the county board relying on state statute to examine Treasurer Chris Lauzen under oath or to remove him for office misconduct?
I support accountability for every elected official, regardless of political affiliation. Any use of County Board’s statuory authority should be based on documented facts, applicable law, due process and advice from the state’s attorney, not political disagreements or personalities. If credible evidence establishes misconduct and the law authorizes board action, the board should follow the appropriate legal process. Likewise, and elected official should not be subjected to extraordinary proceedings without an adequate factual and legal basis
Will you accept the election results regardless of who wins or loses?
Yes. I will respect the certified results of a lawful election. Every candidate has the right to use the established legal processes for recounts or election challenges when warranted, but once those processes are completed, the certified result should be respected.
At present, data center developments have been mostly brought before municipalities but what role can or should the county play in data center regulations and future development?
Data centers can bring investment, construction activity, jobs, and additional economic development, but those benefits must be weighed against their impact on residents and public infrastructure. Kane County should play an appropriate role in regional planning and, where it has jurisdiction, land use and permitting, while coordinating closely with municipalities.
I would want major proposals evaluated for their impact on electricity and water demand, roads and transportation, noise, emergency services, surrounding property owners, the environment and county infrastructure. I would also examine whether the economic and tax benefits justify and public incentives or infrastructure costs.
What is your stance on the proposed BUILD Act? What impact do you think it could have on your district?
I recognize the BUILD Act’s stated goal of increasing Illinois’ housing supply and improving affordability. However, I have significant concerns with provisions that would shift zoning and land-use authority from local governments to the state. Decisions involving housing density, development standards, infrastructure, and neighborhood planning should include meaningful local input and reflect the needs and capacity of each community.
For District 23 and the broader Kane County area, these proposals could affect how communities plan residential growth and could create additional demands on roads, schools, water and sewer systems, public safety, and other services. At the same time, increasing housing options can provide benefits when development is appropriately located and supported by adequate infrastructure.
I would support efforts to expand attainable and workforce housing, but I would want those efforts balanced with local decision-making, responsible planning, infrastructure capacity, and protection of taxpayers.
How many county board meetings have you attended this year? If you missed any, why did you miss them?
I have attended 3 Kane County Board meetings this year. I believe it is important for a candidate for County Board to understand firsthand how the board conducts business, how taxpayer dollars are being used and what issues are affecting residents. I was unable to attend some meetings because of family, medical and prior commitments. When I could not attend in person, I made an effort to stay informed by reviewing meetings agendas, minutes, recordings and other county materials.
One financial stressor is the end of COVID-19 relief dollars. What should the county do with programs funded by federal COVID-19 dollars?
Federal COVID-19 relief dollars were temporary, and Kane County should not automatically shift every program created or expanded with those funds onto local taxpayers. Before continuing any program, the County Board should conduct a program-by-program review based on demonstrated need, measurable results, cost, duplication of existing services, and whether a sustainable funding source exists.
Programs that have proven effective and address an ongoing essential county responsibility should be considered for continued funding, but only after identifying how they can be supported within a balanced budget or through other grants and partnerships. Programs that were designed specifically as temporary pandemic relief, have not demonstrated measurable results, or cannot be sustained without increasing the burden on taxpayers should be allowed to sunset.
The County should also avoid using reserves or new taxes simply to preserve programs because federal funding has expired. The goal should be to protect essential services while recognizing that one-time federal money should not create permanent spending obligations without a long-term funding plan.
What is your stance on solar energy facilities or data centers on agricultural land? Does the risk of lawsuits factor into your stance? What about battery storage?
I support renewable energy and responsible economic development, but I also believe Kane County has an obligation to protect productive agricultural land and the quality of life of surrounding residents. Solar facilities and data centers should be evaluated individually based on location, soil quality, compatibility with surrounding uses, infrastructure demands, drainage, environmental effects, setbacks, and the long-term consequences of converting agricultural land to other uses.
When it comes to solar facilities, I would prefer development on less productive agricultural property, brownfields, industrial areas, rooftops, and other appropriate locations when feasible. Where solar is proposed on farmland, I would expect strong requirements for drainage protection, vegetation management, decommissioning, financial assurances, and restoration of the property when the facility is no longer operating.
The possibility of litigation should be considered, but fear of a lawsuit should not determine my vote. The County Board has to follow Illinois law, apply its zoning standards consistently, respect property rights and provide applicants and residents with due process. Decisions should be based on the law and the facts in the record. Illinois law limits counties’ ability to prohibit commercial solar facilities in agricultural and industrial zoning districts and requires approval when an application satisfies applicable statutory and zoning requirements.
Battery energy storage requires particular attention to public safety. I would want appropriate setbacks, emergency-response planning, fire protection, access for first responders, drainage protection, decommissioning requirements and financial responsibility clearly established before a project proceeds. Illinois law now establishes specific county standards for energy-storage systems and limits how restrictive county regulations can be.
Ultimately, my approach would be to balance private property rights and energy development with preservation of Kane County’s agricultural heritage, public safety and the interests of neighboring property owners. I would evaluate each proposal on its merits and use every reasonable authority available to the County to protect residents and taxpayers.
