Carolyn’s responses to the Northwest Herald candidate questionnaire
What office are you seeking?
Re-election to McHenry County Board Member - District 3
What is your current age? 65
Occupation and employer: McHenry County Board Member
What offices, if any, have you previously held?
Currently serving on the McHenry County Board (elected in Nov. 2022)
Appointed to an open position on the McHenry County Board, Feb. 2022
Served on the McHenry County Conservation District Board of Trustees (2017-2022)
City: Crystal Lake
Campaign website: carolynlyncampbell.com
Education:
BA - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate studies in Public Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Community involvement:
Regularly support a variety of local non-profit social service, health-related, and environmental agencies personally, publicly, and financially at their events and fundraisers
Volunteer with the STEP Forward Program, which helps people in the Specialty Courts system develop skills and confidence needed to re-enter the workforce and build a productive future
And I’m always willing to help community members connect with services they need, whether or not the issue falls within my “official duties”.
And I’m a member of:
McHenry County Conservation Foundation, Board of Directors
Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Environment Committee
Environmental Defenders of McHenry County
Green Drinks International, McHenry County Chapter
Friends of Hackmatack
For years I volunteered in D47 schools to support our teachers and students when my kids were young, and I volunteered regularly in a variety of ways with the Conservation District from 2008-2022.
Marital status/Immediate family:
Married, three independent adult sons
What are your top three priorities for this district?
As an incumbent McHenry County Board Member, I have demonstrated significant support for common sense transportation solutions, public safety, our mental health community, effective senior services, and the protection of our water supply - always focused on delivering high-quality critical services at the lowest possible cost. In a second full term, I’ll continue to focus on the issues I’ve prioritized during my four-plus years on the County Board:
Promote smart long-term planning and economic development so we improve the quality of life for residents while simultaneously reducing our reliance on property taxes. There’s too much talk about the need to cut and not enough energy spent promoting the County’s excellent services and seeking solutions that increase revenue to support them in new ways that won’t further burden homeowners.
Preserve our agricultural and natural resources as we grow so we maintain as much of our beautiful open space as we can. Our future depends on a mix of economic development and natural resource preservation, especially since we are wholly reliant on the water beneath our feet to support everything we do. And the natural beauty of McHenry County is a fundamental reason that so many people settled here in the first place. It’s why my family came here and why we choose to stay.
I’ll continue to drive public safety efforts, with these past accomplishments as evidence of the types of initiatives I’ll support moving forward: voted to create and support the Sheriff’s Police Social Worker Program, voted to build the McHenry County Regional Training Center and increase the number of Sheriff’s deputies, drove traffic and pedestrian safety improvements on Lakewood and Pyott Roads in collaboration with municipal leaders, and served as the Board liaison to (and chief advocate for) the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency, which provides resource coordination and leadership before, during, and after local disasters. A full description of public safety initiatives I’ve supported is available on my website.
Why are you running for office?
I’ve served my community and McHenry County in a variety of ways for over thirty years, and, since 2017, in an official way on boards that span the entire County (split almost evenly between the Conservation District and the County Board). First of all – I love what I do - representing my District, listening to residents, and connecting them with resources that make their lives better. McHenry County is such a great place to live, work, play, raise a family, or run a business, and I enjoy playing a role in making it even better.
I believe I’ve earned the respect of residents and other community leaders by consistently demonstrating a willingness to work hard, listen to concerns, do my homework, and collaborate to identify ways to solve problems. You don’t hear me spouting off about political agendas. I approach everything from an independent perspective, and I don’t take orders from anyone. All I want to know is this: what’s the problem and how do we solve it for McHenry County residents?
And I think I still have a lot to offer.
Did you receive a PPP loan during the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, what was the name of the business, how much did it get and was it forgiven? If it was forgiven, when?
No, I did not.
Will you accept the election results regardless of who wins or loses?
The way that our elections have been run in McHenry County in the past, I have never had a reason to question the validity of the results. We have historically made it easier and more convenient for people to vote, and I believe that practices have been in place to make our elections fair and accurate. If this election and all future elections follow the processes that we have in place without interference from any outside forces, then there is no reason to question the results.
What is your position on the nonbinding home rule referendum? Do you support it or oppose it and why?
I oppose it.
We’ve talked for years about the need to have more control over what happens locally, especially over zoning policies that shape our communities, and I absolutely agree. But this referendum won’t change that. The state can create laws that supersede what a home rule community can control, and they have already done that. Control over approval and placement of solar projects, for example, would not change if McHenry County had home rule authority due to existing state law. So, it doesn’t help to fix the one issue the referendum claims to address.
Second, what is really being proposed is an elected County Executive form of government that concentrates power in a single individual and unleashes unlimited taxing authority. Home rule is merely a by-product and framing it as a local control issue is misleading at best. And, given the tax implications, if we are serious about living within our means, then this referendum should be a non-starter.
Further, the County Board never discussed the measure in detail to determine whether it is a viable solution for McHenry County. Several members opposed it outright but pushed it forward anyway. Getting voter feedback is extremely important, which is why I get out to meet residents on a regular basis. I voted against moving this question forward because we had failed to fully evaluate the implications of the referendum before putting it out to voters so they could make an educated decision, not because I didn’t want to hear from voters.
Rushing to put this on the ballot amounts to nothing more than political theater, and we’re wasting time talking about this distraction when we have serious budget issues to work through. I would rather spend my time talking to residents about the services the County offers and understand which ones they think are valuable enough to keep when we are forced to make budget cuts.
The county board chose to allocate $500,000 in RTA sales tax dollars for squad cars during last year’s budget season. The county historically has used RTA sales tax money for transportation, but can use the funds for public safety as well. Do you believe the county should keep those funds for transportation or should they use it for public safety? Why or why not?
I believe RTA sales tax dollars should primarily be used to fund transportation.
This is an important revenue source for road and bridge projects throughout the county. These projects are years in the making, require significant resources, and are prioritized to first maintain and preserve existing infrastructure; provide safety and operational improvements; and finally, to help fund road expansions, extensions and intersection improvements.
Our economic growth depends heavily on safe, accessible, well-maintained roads that allow traffic to flow freely and connect communities and businesses. Shifts in funding can push projects that are already 5 to 10 years out even further into the future or paused indefinitely, impacting long term planning for impacted communities. This well-planned transportation pipeline includes projects like the Lakewood and Ackman Road extensions, both of which are vital for the continued economic growth of communities I represent: Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Crystal Lake, the Village of Lakewood, and Huntley.
If you support using more RTA tax dollars for public safety, what transportation projects or initiatives would you be willing to postpone or cancel? What sort of public safety initiatives should those dollars fund?
I am open to using a limited amount of RTA sales tax revenue for one-time capital expenses for safety projects outside of transportation, but this will depend on the health of the RTA sales tax revenues in any given year and the potential impact to future critical infrastructure improvements.
The county board is going to have a tight budget season this year, with the end of COVID-19 relief dollars and increased health insurance costs and expenses are on pace to exceed revenues. How would you close the gap? What should the county do with staff positions that have been funded with COVID-19 relief dollars? If you support cuts to the budget, what would you like to cut and why?
Staff positions funded with expiring COVID-19 relief dollars, like positions funded with any short-term grants, are meant to end when the dollars are no longer available and we can’t identify a reasonable replacement revenue source.
In the short run, we’ll likely have to make cuts across the board. Most county services are required by state law. So, it’s not that there are major cuts to “support” – there are cuts that will be necessary. We’re still reviewing options to see how deep we’ll have to go.
In the long run, we need to find revenue sources other than property taxes to fund our services. Too much of McHenry County’s revenue sourcing is based on homeownership, and we need to seek opportunities for revenue growth beyond local property taxes.
In District 3, which I represent, the Village of Lakewood needs water and sewer connection to Route 47 for commercial expansion, and I’ve been working with their leadership to advocate for federal grant money for that specific project, so they don’t have to rely on property taxes to fund it. Without it, they will continue to struggle to build a business base.
Lake in the Hills needs the Ackman Road extension from Haligus Road heading west to the Village of Huntley if they are to benefit from the coming growth along the Route 47 corridor.
I’ve also advocated for many years for small investment in promoting tourism, which brings in significant dollars to the county while retaining our agricultural and natural resources. We need these types of investments to stimulate the economic growth that will generate new revenue.
McHenry County is limited in its ability to regulate solar farms under state law. What is your stance on solar facilities on agricultural land? Does the risk of lawsuits factor into your stance? What about battery storage?
My preference would be for solar to be added to the rooftops of new and existing buildings or built over parking lots so we preserve as much agricultural land and open space as possible.
That said, farm preservation is challenging and framing it alongside solar projects complicates a very real issue. Currently, there isn’t a mechanism to protect farmland or to compensate farmers for leaving their land in agriculture. With many farmers struggling to survive they are under pressure to find more profitable options outside of farming, including installing commercial projects on their land.
These projects can be decommissioned and returned to farming. Farmers can take advantage of a commercial opportunity without converting their land to permanent development. Solar projects do put real pressure on farmland conversion; however, farmers have a right to use their land to its highest value and receive a fair review process.
Prior to state laws being tightened, McHenry County had reasonable ordinances around solar, and the Board approved projects that met standards, and rejected those that did not. I too am extremely frustrated about the loss of local control. Fixing this requires collaboration between local elected officials and state lawmakers to change recent laws.
We are required to follow state law as it exists. I favor challenging the law where appropriate and have stated this publicly. However, in a ham-fisted approach, the majority of the Board voted to issue blanket denials to a number of projects, including those that met our own standards. I opposed this overly broad approach. What followed was a series of anticipated lawsuits that forced the County to defend a seemingly random approach to denials. The Board was ordered to approve each project, including the ones that should have legitimately been challenged. This was completely predictable and was especially bad form at a time when the County is facing a budget crunch, as these self-imposed lawsuits put even more taxpayer dollars at risk.
Solar projects (and battery storage, as the technology continues to improve) do have a place in a well-diversified array of energy generating resources but must follow locally driven requirements, strict safety standards, and approval processes.
What is your stance on slaughterhouses in unincorporated McHenry County? What regulations should the county place on them?
We need to protect our agricultural resources and support our farming community. Farming plays a significant role in our local economy, is an important part of our history, and continues to be a defining characteristic of McHenry County.
Processing plants are a critical component in food production and local livestock farmers require access to high-quality, well-regulated, and responsibly managed facilities. Local plants can significantly decrease the distance that needs to be traveled which in turn lowers costs, helps the environment by reducing emissions, and reduces stress on animals that are otherwise transported over long distances in all weather conditions.
Though a necessary component of animal husbandry, processing plants must be located appropriately and will require a rigorous review by the Zoning Board of Appeals and approval by the County Board to ensure compliance with standards and conditions set forth in our Unified Development Ordinance. This ensures development is consistent with the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan and compatible with adjacent properties while protecting the rights of neighboring property owners and community members.
What is your stance on data centers in unincorporated McHenry County? What regulations should the county place on them?
Based on what we know today, data centers would not be a good fit for McHenry County. Currently, most data centers - depending on size and processing requirements - rely heavily on water to cool their systems, consume massive amounts of energy, generate noise pollution, and produce emissions from gas-powered turbines, among other impacts. Water usage alone makes these projects risky as McHenry County relies completely on aquifers for our water supply.
Technology, however, is rapidly transforming data centers and companies are addressing the many challenges listed above. Projects will look very different in the near future.
This year, I joined the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Data Center Task Force which held a series of informational meetings and on-site tours in the Chicago region. One was a large multi-tenant facility viewed only from the outside, the other a Meta Data Center where we viewed their servers first-hand.
Several takeaways: Data centers vary drastically in size, scope, and impacts to neighboring properties. Smaller projects with the right technology can enhance local economies and drive down property taxes, as is currently happening in the City of DeKalb. Changing technology is reshaping newer projects enough that it may be worth taking a closer look in the future.
Whatever happens, stringent zoning and safety standards will need to be adopted. Requirements and limitations around water and energy use, noise and emissions, and other mitigating factors will need to be developed so that communities are prioritized and protected, that nearby residents are involved from the beginning in any discussions, that we listen to their concerns, and that any evaluation of considered sites is a completely transparent process.
County board members receive a $21,000 base salary and are currently eligible for the same benefits, like medical and dental insurance, as county employees. Should the county board be eligible for benefits? Should members be able to get in on the county insurance on their dime? Should the board raise its salary?
During the May 2026 Finance Committee meeting, I proposed keeping County Board Members’ salaries flat while dropping our health insurance coverage, a cost cutting move which would have resulted in a $350K annual savings to the County. If the County Board is serious about cutting costs, we should be starting with our own compensation.
Despite the fact that the proposal passed in committee by a vote of 5-1, leadership failed to put the proposal before the full board for a vote, demonstrating the Board majority’s unwillingness to make any personal sacrifices at a time when we will likely be asking county residents and staff to face significant service cuts in order to balance the budget. That’s not acceptable.
Board Members should only be allowed to buy insurance through the County on their own dime if all part-time employees are allowed to do so.
What is your stance on the proposed BUILD Act? What impact do you think it could have on your district?
I am a strong proponent of local control. Counties and municipalities need to have authority over local zoning, housing, and safety regulations so they can guide development and shape their communities to reflect the values and housing needs of their residents. If local leaders are to be held accountable to their constituents, then they must have a say in policies impacting their communities.
Affordable housing continues to be a huge problem not just in McHenry County but across the country and steps need to be taken to address this critical issue. So, I’m not opposed to measures designed to promote housing for workers, young families, retirees and others who would love to call McHenry County home but currently can’t afford to live here. Others should have the same opportunity my family had when we moved here almost 50 years ago.
The question is, “how do we get there?” The “Middle Housing” mandate in the BUILD ACT - which attempts to address this problem - impacts municipalities directly. While the density requirements are currently not aimed at counties, that could change. Otherwise, District 3, being mostly incorporated, will be heavily impacted if the bill passes, as municipalities will be responsible for overseeing and implementing any changes in zoning arising from the Act, whether they are a good fit or not. Bringing municipal leaders directly into the decision-making process will go a long way to finding meaningful solutions to an ever-increasing need. Local leaders must have a place at the table.
How many county board meetings have you attended this year? If you missed any, why did you miss them?
I have a near perfect track record for attendance at all meetings for which I am responsible. In addition to our monthly voting and committee of the whole meetings, along with an annual budget meeting, I have a number of other responsibilities requiring in-person attendance. These include 3 standing committees (Finance & Administration, Law & Government, and Planning, Environment, and Development), 2 liaison assignments (Emergency Management Agency and Northwest Water Planning Alliance), and 2 commissions (Senior Services Grant Commission and Stormwater Management Commission). I attend well over 75 meetings per year on assigned responsibilities and a significant number of other non-required meetings and events. I missed a couple of meetings early in the year due to illness.