In Will County’s District 2, incumbent Republicans Judy Ogalla, of Monee, and Frankie Pretzel, of New Lenox, are campaigning together to seek another term against Democrat Bob Howard, of Beecher, in a rematch of the November 2022 County Board race.
Because board seats are staggered, district voters will select two candidates for two-year terms. The district covers areas of New Lenox, Manhattan, Peotone and eastern Will County to the Indiana state line.
Howard, who was on the County Board for six years and Washington Township supervisor for eight years, said he is running again because he believes in public service.
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Howard said during his County Board tenure, he worked on the funding mechanism to build the new county courthouse. He helped develop dog parks and trails as a member of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s board. As township supervisor, he expanded the Will Ride services to help seniors and individuals with disabilities with transportation needs, adding that transportation options were lacking in the rural areas.
“What we need now more than ever … are individuals that are dedicated to being public servants,” Howard said. “I don’t represent any special interest groups. What I want to do is actually represent the taxpayer.”
Ogalla and Pretzel said they are running on their record opposing tax increases.
Ogalla, a board member since 2012, said the county’s budget is rapidly increasing and it is not sustainable. Property taxes are too high and remain a top concern among residents, she said. The county needs to see where it can reduce spending across all departments.
“You can’t keep spending and spending and spending,” Ogalla said.
Ogalla said she has been the County Board’s chair, minority whip, forest preserve district president and helps mentor new members. She said she has been a strong opponent of the proposed airport in Peotone, is the voice of rural Will County and has worked to ensure the forest district enacts conservation practices on its agricultural land.
Pretzel said he will work to ensure the sheriff’s office has the funds and tools it needs to address crime, saying there has been an increase in smash-and-grab burglaries targeting video gaming cafes. Government should be trying to figure out how it can give money back to taxpayers, Pretzel said.
“I feel like my job is to stop the bleeding,” said Pretzel, a board member since 2020. “That is what people elected me to do. I will not vote for an increase in the levy.”
Property taxes
Ogalla, 65, said the Republican caucus in July asked for a 2% reduction in the property tax levy, a month before County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant proposed no increase in the property tax levy during her State of the County address.
Before the budget is approved this November, the County Board should continue to look for reductions, Ogalla said.
Pretzel, 47, said all 11 Republicans and one Democrat worked together so there was no property tax increases for the fiscal year 2026 budget approved last November.
“I remain a consistent voice of opposition of any tax increases,” Pretzel said. “Last year we were successful in keeping the levy at zero. I think we’re going to do it again this year. I think I’m a big part of that.”
Howard, 65, said there are always challenges to address. Government is a service provider and funds have to be allocated for health, public safety, senior citizens and transportation. The jail system should work toward ensuring inmates can become productive members of society. Transportation initiatives should help senior citizens and those with disabilities get to their medical appointments, classes, jobs or run errands, he said.
“We have to have responsible budgets which actually take the taxpayers’ interest and taxpayers’ needs first and foremost,” Howard said. “The other part of it is we need a compassionate budget that helps those in need.”
Howard said he would like to see cannabis revenue, a fund the County Board allocates, used to help alleviate the burden on taxpayers.
Pretzel said he would like cannabis revenue allocated toward public safety initiatives and helping fund police, the state’s attorney’s office, public defender’s office or correctional facility.
Ogalla said she agrees cannabis revenue should benefit court-appointed special advocates for children, the Children’s’ Advocacy Center or probation courts because they always have a need for extra revenue. She said she would like additional cannabis funds to help support agricultural initiatives such as an agricultural preservation fund or studies for alternative plans for the Peotone airport property.
Solar farms
Ogalla said the solar energy facilities are not an agricultural use. Green Garden Township is losing 25% of its agricultural land due to solar development, she said.
“They are not farming anything,” she said of the solar facilities.
Both Ogalla and Pretzel voted against two massive solar projects earlier this year, including the Pride of the Prairie project at 6,100 acres and Plum Valley at 2,400 acres. Ogalla and Pretzel were also among three County Board members to vote against a Will County judge’s order to approve all previously rejected solar projects to comply with state law.
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“It’s disgusting that we have the state legislature and governor telling us we have to rubber stamp them,” Pretzel said. “I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have solar in Will County. I think everybody agrees there are places for it. But when you give a blanket statement that says any solar project that wants to go through gets to go through, that’s insane.”
The board passed about 90% of solar applications that it receives, and projects should be judged on their merits, said Pretzel, the chair of the Land Use and Development Committee.
Howard said he lives in a rural area and farmers struggle with high costs of fuel and fertilizer and high property taxes. Planting isn’t as profitable as it once was, he said.
“If a solar farm approaches them and says I’m going to provide you with an alternative form of income where I’m going to go for a 10-year lease or 20 or 30 (years), and you are still going to own the property at the end of it, I think the farmer should have that option,” Howard said. “A property owner has rights.”
Solar facilities don’t increase traffic or add children in the school districts, Howard said, noting some people would prefer them over large warehouse developments.
Data centers
Data centers need to be studied in greater detail, Howard, a carpenter, said. If they are built, he said the data centers need to address concerns about water, electric, lighting and noise, and it shouldn’t affect nearby homeowners.
Pretzel, a franchise business owner, said data centers and modular nuclear facilities are likely up-and-coming issues. Both he and Ogalla support putting a moratorium on data centers until the board addresses regulations.
Ogalla, a retired information technology specialist, said she has been requesting a moratorium on data centers for more than six months, but the proposal hasn’t been put on an agenda.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.