A new challenger emerges in the race for Huntley Village President
HUNTLEY – Residents may be aware that consolidated elections will be taking place on April 6 to elect the individual who will be Huntley’s Village President (or mayor as the position is sometimes referred to). Typically, since 2001, the choice has been straight forward as there has been no opposition running against current Village President Chuck Sass.
However, this year, the tables have turned a bit as Huntley Trustee Tim Hoeft, has decided to enter the race against Sass for the Village President position.
With early voting at the Huntley Park District having begun March 22 and continuing through Saturday, April 3, My Huntley News contacted both candidates to get some answers regarding their campaigns.
Tim Hoeft:
What can you tell residents about your background and why you are running for Village President?
“I have lived in Huntley for 35 years. I grew up in town since I was five. I’m an excavating contractor in town. I run my own business so it’s very hands on. I’ve served on the Zoning and Planning Commission since 2011. I was on [the] Zoning [Commission] from 2011-2013. 2013-2015 I was on [the] Planning [Commission] and then in 2015, I ran for election for my trustee seat. Won that one, and then [ran] unopposed in 2019.
“With the planning and vision over the past 30 plus years, we have become one of Northern Illinois’ premier communities with a population of [over] 27,000. My passion for Huntley is why I became involved in local politics.
“Chuck’s done a fine job for 20 years, but at the end of the day, I think we need a breath of fresh air and a new set of eyes on things. If you took our vision for where our town should be, I think we’re probably really close of where we both think it needs to be. But we have two different ways to get there. I think it’s time for a little change of leadership.”
What makes you the best fit to be Village President?
“I’m in a unique position because I grew up here when we were 1,200 people…But I can connect with the residents that have been here for generations and with me having young children in the school district, I think I got a connection with the newer residents that have been here since we’ve experienced our growth.
“My experience in business and engineering, serving six years as Village Trustee, along with my lifetime commitment to community service, have prepared me for this endeavor. I have led many successful contract negotiations and project developments in the past 20 years.
“I believe that all involved parties need to work together through negotiation and open communication for the success of a common goal. Huntley needs a leader who is transparent, trustworthy, and one who will lead by example. I am a man of my word and will keep the residents of Huntley at the forefront of every decision that is presented to the Village Board.”
What steps would you take to increase the quality of life for Huntley residents?
“The number one on my list, it always has been, is our economic development to help our tax base for our existing residents. The other part is just capitalizing on the growth potential we have in Huntley.
“On the residential end, we got Talamore to finish up and then we got a possible new phase for Cider Grove, but after that on the residential end, we’re a little lacking. So, we got to keep our eyes open on that.
“With Metra coming, possibly, we have one chance to figure out where to do that station and do it right. Whether it’s east of town, west of town, or downtown…But that’s one of those infrastructure projects where we’re going to have to nail it right the first time because there’s no going back and redoing it.”
What major goals do you hope to accomplish as Village President?
“There’s still things we need to do downtown. I want to make downtown more of a destination than it already is. The challenge of doing that is, it costs money…I want to capitalize on our economic growth that we have on the south end of town and if there is any sort of potential on the north side of town for other kinds of growth.
“When we do whatever we do downtown, we can take the funds generated from those transactions and then reinvest it in downtown and not have to go to the taxpayers or a bond or any alternative finance.
“We’re on the cusp of breaking into a whole other arena for Huntley with growth…I can appreciate everything that’s been done in the past, but we got to continually be looking forward.”
Chuck Sass:
What can you tell residents about your background and why you are rerunning for Village President?
Sass grew up in Barrington but came to Huntley in 1976. Sass has worked with the Union Special Corporation, Dean Foods as well as the credit union. He got involved in local politics because of his dedication for helping people.
“[I was] involved with Huntley Legion, traveling team, Huntley Lion’s Club. [I was] secretary treasurer of that for 15 years. So, in 1997 when I first ran for office…[I] got elected as a trustee.”
Sass explained after the passing of former Huntley Village President James “Jim” Dhamer, him and his fellow trustees appointed Charles “Charlie” Becker as Interim Village President. However, at the time, he stated the Board was not “excited with Charlie” and asked Sass to run for Village President in 2001. Sass won the election against current Huntley Trustee Harry Leopold, stating, “The rest is history.”
What makes you the best fit to continue to be Village President?
“Based on things I have experienced and that I brought to the table…I balanced budgets. [Spent] countless hours down at the toll way and the state regarding getting a full interchange at [Route] 47 and [I-90]. Got the Route 47 widening. We brought in Walmart, Weber Grill, General RV. Got a hospital. Project Pumpkin, whatever that’s going to be.
“Got another Walgreens, got a new Jewel. Got a hotel that I’ve been working on for 15 years. We’ve done a lot of good things.
“All the other developments along [Route] 47 and everything, was during my term in office. There’s somethings I still want to get done.”
What steps would you take to continue to increase the quality of life for Huntley residents?
“We’re looking to expand the downtown [area]. Also tied in with that is the Amtrak and the potential with Metra.
“I think it’s an important thing that residents enjoy what we’ve really done down there. You know, put the picnic benches down there. The concerts and just a lot of good stuff. Like I said, the increase in whoever it is on Project Pumpkin with that number of employees, it’s going to jump start the economy here or jump start even more economic development for Huntley. Which is all good.”
What major goals do you hope to accomplish as Village President?
“[I] always had a vision of one stop shopping in Huntley. We try to keep [residents] here…What I’d love to do is get a new post office. I had something worked out years ago. We were going to give them the property out by the new municipal complex. They came in [and] we thought they were going to sign the papers and [suddenly], they say, ‘You got to build us a building.’ That was never part of the deal.
“[I want] to thank [voters] for their confidence in me in the past and for voting for me. I look forward to this election…I want to produce a balance growth between new homes and the commercial [developments] and everything like that, because back in the hey day we were doing 1,100-1,200 homes a year when Del Webb was still going strong.
“I think we did a great job. The big thing with development is we put in place a transportation plan. It’s a lot of planning. [I need] four more years to clean up some stuff that we started or are thinking about doing.”
Sass states if he is reelected, this will be his final term in office and will be happy to see someone new in the position of Village President after his term is completed.
