Elgin

Incumbent David Kaptain Wins Elgin Mayoral Race

The local economy sits at center of the race for Elgin mayor

Elgin residents gave David Kaptain a second chance as mayor as they voted him in office again in Tuesday's election.

Elgin sits in two counties -- suburban Cook and Kane. As of Wednesday morning, Kaptain had 70 percent of the vote in Cook County over opponent Joseph Galvan, according to the Cook County clerk's office. All 13 precincts had reported, but results remain unofficial.

In Kane County, where results also remain unofficial, Kaptain took 68 percent of the vote. All 62 precincts had reported, according to the Kane County clerk's office.

Both Galvan and the incumbent mayor focused on the local economy during their campaign and have very different ideas on how to improve it.

Kaptain, a retired chief chemist for the Fox River Water Reclamation District and former executive director of the Elgin Community Network, wants to bring the arts to downtown Elgin as an economic booster, according to the Daily Herald.

In 2011, Kaptain defeated a three-term incumbent, Ed Schock, by running as the "neighborhood guy" who wanted to increase community engagement.

Galvan, who heads the housing and development department of Galvan & Associates, disagrees with Kaptain concerning the arts and economic revival. He told the Elgin Courier-News that he thinks the arts are important, but if elected mayor he would focus on the real estate community to stop the decline in property values.

See complete election results from suburban Cook and Kane Counties below.

The need for both candidates to focus so much on the local economy in the mayoral race comes from Gov. Bruce Rauner's recent budget cuts, which will cut income tax revenue shares to local governments.

Kaptain, 67, has only been mayor for one term, but he has served on the city council since 2005.

Galvan, 58, is a political newcomer in Elgin. But although he has no local political experience, he previously worked as the regional director for the Midwest region of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He is also a board member for the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.

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