Hot topics in Will County District 7 race include opioids and taxes

Steve Balich (from left), Kyle Killacky and Mike Fricilone. (Steve Balich/Kyle Killacky/Mike Fricilone)

Susan DeMar LaffertyDaily Southtown

Battling the opioid epidemic, high taxes, and spending are at the forefront of Will County’s District 7 board race, where a 23-year-old student, Kyle Killacky, is challenging the two Republican incumbents, Steve Balich and Mike Fricilone in the Nov. 6 election.

District 7, which includes most of Homer Township, parts of Lockport Township and one precinct in New Lenox Township, has two open seats for four-year terms.

Killacky, a Homer Glen Democrat, said he would bring a youthful perspective to the board and “fresh, new, and exciting ideas” that are “very vital in leading the county into the future.”

Balich and Fricilone have both served on the county board since 2012, and said they are seeking re-election to keep property taxes down.

Killacky’s biggest priority is the opioid crisis which is “getting worse,” he said.

The county needs to invest more in its health department to address the issue, he said. “Our health department is underfunded at a time when we have a health epidemic raging in the county. It was insane to think that in 2016 there were people on the board who wanted to defund the health department.”

Killacky also wants to make sure the sheriff's department has enough resources to continue its efforts in fighting this problem.

Balich, of Orland Park, said the heroin problem can be addressed with education and “creating a positive environment where addicts can get a good job.”

Putting people in jail is “very costly” and the county is trying to find innovative ways to reduce the jail population, he said.

Fricilone, of Homer Glen, said “the earlier children are educated on the dangers of drug use the better prepared they will be to fight this battle.”

The county has received state and federal grant funding to help fight this epidemic and will continue to seek those grants, he said.

Fricilone, who chairs the board’s Finance Committee, said the board has increased funding for the Health Department, provided more drug awareness programs, built a new Public Safety Complex, started to build a new county courthouse while reducing the county’s tax rate for the past three years.

He said he wants to continue to reduce the tax burden, provide oversight on spending, and make sure taxpayers are “getting the best services.” This can be done through “efficient government and wise spending,” he said.

Balich said he will “continue to spend taxpayer money like it was my own.”

”Seniors and others on a fixed income see so much of their disposable income taken away by excessive taxes, they are forced to move or struggle to make ends meet,” he said.

Killacky said as the county grows, more jobs are needed but not necessarily more warehouse jobs.

He said he will work to bring jobs that “treat workers like human beings” and “pay a living wage.” To attract such jobs, the county must continue to “invest in its infrastructure.” While the county is doing a “good job,” he said he will do “more to fix our crumbling roads.”

Fricilone, a businessman and chairman of the Lockport Township High School Foundation, also wants to increase economic development and jobs, improve local roads and cut wasteful spending, according to his website, www.mikefricilone.tumblr.com. During his tenure on the county board, he has not supported pay raises for elected officials and voted to eliminate pensions for county board members.

Balich previously served as Homer Township trustee and clerk, and is co-founder of the Will County Tea Party Alliance. He is concerned about expanding government and wants to eliminate laws and regulations that are “not enforced, make little sense, or just a way for government to make money.” For example, he has pushed to exempt routine repair and maintenance work from requiring a building permit.

”We need to support our police who must deal with media driven disdain for police.I will stand for issues that benefit people,” Balich said.

Killacky said he wants a Will County that works for everyone, regardless of political party, religion, race, or gender.

“A county board member should represent everyone,” he said. “I believe that everyone my age should contribute to their community in some way.”