Paschke Overcomes Kaven In Geneva Ward 4: Unofficial Election Results

GENEVA, IL — Newcomer Martha Paschke looks poised to defeat her opponent Gabriel Kaven to become the next alderperson for Geneva's 4th Ward, according to unofficial results from the Kane County Clerk's Office.

Paschke received 797 votes, or 53.6 percent, while Kaven came away with 649 votes, or 43.64 percent.

Four other candidates ran unopposed. Anais Bowring, a first-time candidate, secured the Ward 1 seat while Bradley Kosirog, Dean Kilburg and Craig Maladra won second terms in wards 2, 3 and 5, respectively.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. in Illinois.

Although Paschke has not yet posted about the outcome, she said earlier Tuesday that she was "glad that I took the opportunity to run to be your next Alderperson. Meeting so many of you was definitely the highlight. I hope that I do get the opportunity to serve on City Council, and if/when I do, I look forward to continuing our many conversations."

A Geneva resident of more than 20 years, Paschke ran because she wanted to "give back to the place that made [her childhood] dreams come true," she said on her Facebook page.

Paschke currently operates the Kane County Collaborative Diversion initiative at the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

In women's health and education, her volunteer work includes serving as secretary on the Geneva Library Foundation, working with the group Kane and Kendall County Moms Demand Action, and serving on the Family Service Association board.

"I pride myself on being responsive and showing up when I'm needed, and I care about issues that affect my community and my neighbors," she told the Daily Herald. "I also believe that my curiosity about the world is also beneficial. I want to understand not only the issues themselves, but other people's perspectives about them as well."

In a post on Facebook, she said, "more than anything, I enjoy helping people and problem-solving. Those are the skills I hope to put to use as your next alderperson, Ward 4."

If he had won, Kaven, a resident since 2008, planned to be "responsive, open-minded, willing to listen and work to make sure that the city is running efficiently for the community and residents as I have demonstrated over the past 4 years," the candidate said on Facebook.

To Kaven, issues facing the city include taxes, its economic well-being and the development of the southeast side. If voters give him another term, he said he wants to focus on representing the ward as a public service, according to reports from the Chicago Tribune.