On April 1, 2025, the people of St. Charles took to the polls to vote in the local election. There were many losses and wins.

Retired Judge Clint Hull, a 1985 graduate of St. Charles High School, was elected, defeating St. Charles’ incumbent mayor Lora Vitek and her reelection campaign. Out of 8,404 votes, Hull received 58.13 percent. According to his website, his main priorities for his first term include redeveloping the former St. Charles Police Station and the Charlestowne Mall.

Hull also mentions how he opposes the early renewal of the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) through 2055 because he believes, “the city should take additional time to fully explore all options before committing to such a long-term agreement.” IMEA is a nonprofit agency that provides energy to “32 municipal electric systems from all across Illinois,” according to its website.

Another issue in St. Charles arose after the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recommended the removal of nine dams in the Fox River. According to Kane County Connects, the USACE is recommending the removal of the Carpentersville, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora, Aurora and Montgomery dams after citing safety concerns, high maintenance fees and “proliferation of invasive plant and animal species in the warm, slow-moving pools behind them.”

Hull is in favor of keeping the dam unless further studies can show that keeping the dam will endanger the community. He cites the dam’s historical role in St. Charles’ history as to why he is in favor of keeping it.

The mayoral election was not the only election to occur in St. Charles on that day.

In the Ward One race, 4,086 people voted for St. Charles alderperson. It was between Ronald Silkaitis and Robert Kasper.  Silkaitis was victorious with 54.73 percent of the votes.

In Ward Two, 5,206 people voted in the St. Charles alderperson. It was between Ryan Bongard and Angela Churchill. Bongard achieved the majority with 65.22 percent of the votes.

The Ward 3 race had three candidates: Vicki Spellman, Paul Lencioni and Carolyn Waibel. Out of 4,412 votes, Spellman won with 38.36 percent.

In Ward 5, 4,659 people voted in the race between Steve Weber and Lauren Duddles. Weber won with 51.83 percent.

Some positions were uncontested, which included the St. Charles Treasurer, which was won by John Harrill; the St. Charles Clerk, won by Susan Hanson; the St. Charles Alderperson, Ward three, unexpired two-year term, won by Robert Gehm and St. Charles Alderperson, Ward four, which was won by Bryan Wirball. All of these were won by 100 percent of the votes since they were the only ones in the respective races.

All of the April 1, 2025, election winners were sworn in on May 5, 2025, at the St. Charles Fire Department. Mayors serve four-year terms, and all candidates in the St. Charles election ran as independents. If you want to learn more about the Kane County April 1, 2025, election results, you can visit the Kane County website.