Election 2025: Cary Mayor Sounds Off On Maplewood, Village Priorities

CARY, IL — Local elections are right around the corner.

In Cary, Mayor Mark Kownick will be challenged by Cary Dairy owner, Randy Scott. We've sent candidates questionnaires to both Kownick and Scott.

• Ice Cream Shop Owner Challenges Mayor In Cary

We've included the verbatim answers from Kownick below:

• Name: Mark Kownick
• Town of residence: Cary
• Family: Married; Shannon, since 1988, 3 children, all Cary Grove Graduates, Matthew (wife Annie, expecting our first grandchild in June, living in Wisconsin), Kaitlin (living in Ohio), Christopher (finance Hallie, living in Iowa). No family members work in politics or government
• Education: Bachelor of Science
• Occupation: Small business owner
• Previous or current elected or appointed office:
  • Mayor, Village of Cary since 2013 Mayor – Village of Cary, 2013 - present
  • Trustee – Village of Cary, 2009-2011
  • Vice President -- McHenry County Council of Governments, 2014-Present
  • Past Chair, Current Executive Board Member -- Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, 2020-Present
  • Vice President – Illinois Municipal League, 2024-Present

The single most pressing issue facing the city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing the Village of Cary is creating a revenue source for roads and infrastructure. While keeping our taxes low and less of a burden on our taxpayers. We have projects identified of about $65 Million dollars over the next five years. Most are needs and some are like to have. Through our budget process, we will determine what are the most important channel funding in that direction. We continue to look for grants to offset our expenses. Please refer to our current Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Available on our website.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

The critical differences between me and my opponent are my experience of 2 years as a Trustee learning the local government process, then being elected Mayor for the last 12 years, along with my other elected county, regional and state positions as mentioned. These roles bring tremendous credibility to the village of Cary. I have gained knowledge of the role through hard work, dedication and education. I believe I am a very effective leader for the village of Cary. I have access to other very seasoned elected officials, along with professional staff to collaborate on all the pressing issues facing municipalities. In addition, I have solid, respected relationships with state representatives, senators and federally elected officials. Working together for the betterment of the village of Cary and our region.

My opponent is a disgruntled small business owner. No experience, he doesn’t comply with village codes or ordinances, forces litigation and the unnecessary use of taxpayers’ funds for the last three years and he is still non-compliant. He doesn’t show up to court dates, refuses to comply with the court orders. The judge ruled in the village’s favor. In addition, he’s been arrested on domestic charges, resisted arrest, and got into altercations with police and firefighters. He also made disparaging racial remarks to a female officer. It’s all public record.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My proven results should speak about my accomplishments as the longest serving mayor in the Village of Cary, serving for 12 years so far. We have a vibrant and thriving community. We are being swarmed with new business and development opportunities, which will help lower and diversify our tax base for all taxing bodies. Another top accomplishment is building an incredible staff with top notch, highly educated and experienced department heads guiding and responding to the village board and community needs all the time.

We built a state-of-the-art Municipal Center to better serve our staff and the community. Built under budget, on time without a tax increase. Finished Cary Lake into a true asset for our community. Led our community through the Covid 19 pandemic without losing one business. I have been recognized by the county, region and state by being nominated and elected to leadership roles thus helping me to better serve the Village of Cary residents and businesses. Improving our central downtown business district with a three-phase plan to enhance our streetscape and infrastructure. Phase one completed, phase two starting this year to include a community pavilion, fire pit and additional seating to encourage residents to hang out and enjoy their community and phase three next year will brin much more on Spring
Street.

Are the village government's taxes too high, too low or just about right? Explain.

The village of Cary takes about 4.88% or the overall tax bill. Half of that goes to the state mandated police pension fund. The remainder we use for our general fund. I believe we deliver top quality service for the taxes we receive. I prefer looking for other resources to gain revenue, leaving out tax rate where it is. Continued growth and development will help.

What is your view of the village's maintenance of its infrastructure?

The village of Cary has a strong program for identifying needed infrastructure repairs. We have a 5-year program as noted, our CIP helps us navigate our ever-changing needs. The issue is finding a sustainable revenue source to help us complete the projects we have identified. Overall, we are in a satisfactory status and need to improve as we move forward. Funding is the key. We are always looking for grants and municipal partners to help offset the costs of projects.

Has the village done a good job in handling stormwater issues?

The village of Cary is certified through our county to manage our stormwater management. This is a critical function to mitigate any threat of flooding. In my second year of being mayor we had a tremendous store flooding an area that historically flooded. I led the efforts to find a way to fund the mitigation. Working with the State and Federal governments we acquired grants that enabled us to remove a few houses the always flooded to create a detention basin to prohibit it from happening. We were also able to help with the relocation of the displaced residents as the home were purchased.

What is your assessment of the police department's performance?

We have an outstanding police department led by a highly professional Chief, command staff and officers. We have the lowest crime rate in the county. We take policing very seriously. We partnered with the county, sheriffs’ office, McHenry City, LITH and Alogonquin to create two regional training centers. Beginning with the first of its kind, an indoor firearms training facility so all law enforcement train together. Second, we donated our former village hall and police department to the county for a region training center focusing on classroom and tactical training.

What is your view on how the Maplewood property be used?

The Village suggested there was a better use and opportunity than having a new transportation center built in the heart of our downtown, and the Village Board and the School Board both voted to make this happen. The Maplewood property has been in our planning stages since 2009 when it was vacated. The school district wanted to sell the property. The Village’s job is to help find the highest and best use. In addition, the district saved millions of dollars of taxpayer money by relocating the transportation center. This property was identified in our comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2015, with hundreds of residents’ participation and feedback deeming higher density residential, including multi story luxury rental apartments with owner occupied
townhouses along the current existing residential single family homes.

This was also reaffirmed during our downtown strategic plan adopted in 2021 with the input of
hundreds of residents and business feedback and participation. The Village of Cary is lacking the missing middle housing just like this. The process is just starting. Nothing has been decided at this time. We will have many meetings with residents, businesses and the developers long before anything is finalized. On a planning note, this property is perfect for Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which would bring quality, more dense housing close to our new train depot and our thriving downtown business district. TOD’s are very important in our region.

Should the city do anything to make housing more affordable in town? Why or why not? And how?

The village of Cary supports and exceeds state mandated affordable housing. I championed the workforce housing here in Cary we constructed in 2015. We also have affordable senior housing here in Cary and one more being constructed this year. We also have many affordable single-family homes and multi-family units available as well.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My friends, family, and colleges say I bleed Cary, my colleagues say the same about me. I’ve been nominated and voted in to represent the county, region and state for my professional, respectful collaboration to get things done to make life better. My proven, innovative, results-driven progress that benefits every neighbor and business is what I am all about.

The experience and knowledge I have gained during my last 12 years as mayor proves I am the right mayor at the right time. We have many things to be grateful for, first our community which gives me strength, an unbelievable staff that continues to support me and my mission to be the best I can, a very supportive board of trustees who value my insight and drive to continue to make Cary a destination by keeping our small town charm, while bringing innovative developments that will enhance our great village. I am asking for you to vote for me, your dedicated mayor, Mark Kownick on April 1, 2025.