Property taxes and solar energy facilities are among the top issues for candidates in the Republican primary for Will County Board District 4, which covers areas of Mokena and Homer Glen. Incumbents Steve Balich, of Homer Glen, and Jim Richmond, of Mokena, face Homer Glen Trustee Mike Lepore and bus inessman Pawel Tyrala, of Homer Township. Tyrala said he is suspending his campaign, but was not able to formally withdraw with the Will County clerk’s office. Voters will select two candidates in the Republican primary March 17, who will face Democrats William Pratt and Sheri Boniecki-Cooling in November. All three Republicans said they can work across the aisle. The Will County Board has been equally represented with 11 Republicans and 11 Democrats, and control of the board will be at stake in November. Balich, a board member since 2012, said his seniority allows him to get items important to him on the agenda for a vote. “I actually like being on the County Board, and I actually enjoy the arguments, and I don’t give up,” Balich said. “And I win a lot of arguments, even when we are not in power.” Richmond, a board member since 2022 and the Republican Leader, said he listens well, tries to understand others’ positions and come up with a solution that is a “win-win” for everyone. Lepore said he is a workhorse and is able to forge relationships and find a middle ground. Some people on the County Board have been there so long and are deeply entrenched, he said. “You’ve got to work with people whether Democrat or Republican to get your objectives accomplished,” Lepore said. “If you don’t have a winning team, you have to turn over the roster.” Solar energy farms The candidates said they have concerns about the rising number of solar energy facilities, especially when proposed next to residential areas. The County Board hears numerous proposals each year from solar energy firms looking to connect to ComEd lines and place solar panels on agricultural land. Steve Balich (Campaign photo) Balich, the past Homer Township supervisor, said while there are no solar energy plants proposed for District 4, he fears one could come. “I think that’s going to be up-and-coming, a big issue for our district and we need to be able to fight them off,” Balich, 75, said. Lepore, a Homer Glen trustee since 2025, said he has concerns that today’s solar technology will be obsolete in the next 20 years. He said while he understands people want green energy, the industry is still in its infancy and will rapidly change. “I’m not big on seeing miles and miles of solar farms, wind farms,” Lepore, 47, said. “I don’t see the point of putting large mass solar farms in when we are still scratching the surface. So right now, I put my position as very cautious and not a huge fan.” Jim Richmond (Campaign photo) Richmond, a former Mokena trustee and park board member, said solar energy is a countywide issue. He said south of Laraway Road is prime farmland that solar firms desire. He said the term “solar farms” is an attempt to make a power plant sound positive, but they are industrial uses built on agriculturally zoned land. “We have some of the richest farmland in the country,” Richmond, 65, said. “I hate to lose valuable farmland.” While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants. Budget and property taxes The two incumbents said they are proud of the work the board did in the fall to pass a levy by a 12-10 vote with no property tax increases. The board subsequently voted to use $2.77 million in cash reserves to balance its 2026 budget. Richmond, a self-proclaimed “numbers guy” and past chair of the board’s Finance Committee, said the county should find efficiencies and better ways to lower its costs. Richmond, a business owner, said he looks at the budget line by line to find areas to cut. Balich, who was Republican Leader for two years, said he wants to see a 10% reduction in the budgets of all departments and plans to vote against any tax increases. Balich, who is retired, said he feels the county has too much in cash reserves. “All my fights are about unnecessary spending and taxes and budgets,” Balich said. Mike Lepore (Campaign photo) Lepore, who works in real estate and construction, said spending should be scrutinized. “Everything needs to be put under a microscope,” Lepore said. “It may not be popular. You can’t sit there and say there’s nothing here to cut. It’s got to be done. American families, those across Will County, those across Illinois right now are making it happen everyday. The amount residents are being asked to pay is criminal. If we don’t do something about it, it’s only going to get worse.” 143rd Street road expansion Balich said the 143rd Street road expansion project greatly affects the district. Residents and Homer Glen elected officials opposed widening the road and pressured the County Board for about 1 1/2 years until the board voted on a compromise that reduced the scope of the project. Balich opposed the compromise and said he would vote against any subsequent expansions. Lepore, who is opposed to the expansion, said the debate showed that the relationship between Homer Glen and the County Board was not what it could be. He said eminent domain to seize some residents’ land was “done in error” and “property rights should not be trampled on.” Richmond said board members need to work with municipalities on transportation issues to figure out what is best, so the frustrations that happened in Homer Glen don’t happen elsewhere. Other county issues Richmond said he wants to add more well-paying jobs to Will County and recruit new businesses and industry. He said Illinois has received a bad reputation for its high property and gas taxes, but the county has an ideal location by major interstates, railroads, waterways and airports. He said some of his focus would be to grow the economic base as well as support the Will County sheriff’s department. Lepore agreed that bringing in well-paying jobs should be a top priority. He said jobs are leaving en masse on the state level, and he would like the county to attract jobs that will “build careers” and provide workers with a “sense of purpose.” Lepore said truck traffic is a top concern, and trucks shouldn’t be in residential areas. Balich said one of his signature accomplishments was passing an ordinance ensuring that code violations are complaint driven and cannot be initiated by aerial photography or by inspectors who are at the home for a different purpose. He said he also worked to relax ordinances so residents could fix a small section of roof or siding without a permit. He said he would like to revisit regulations to ensure they are not cumbersome for homeowners. Balich said he would also like to make it easier on homeowners to build a “mother-in-law house” on their property for seniors to age near family. Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. ...read more read less