Retired Rockford police officer looks to supplant incumbent for county board seat

Chris Green, Rockford Register Star
·4 min read

Public safety is at the forefront of two Winnebago County Board candidates but how they'll go about achieving and maintaining safety varies.

Incumbent Keith McDonald, a republican, is being challenged for the district 6 county board seat by retired Rockford police officer Richard Kennedy, a democrat.

Both men spoke of the need to maintain adequate funding for the sheriff's department. McDonald also said he supported a resolution that calls on the state legislature to repeal the Safe-T Act. Kennedy said mental health and drug issues drives a great deal of crime and supports funding to address mental healthcare.

We asked both candidates what the biggest issues they'd face if elected and how they'd address them. Here's a closer look at the candidates.

Name: Richard Kennedy

Age: 51

Family: Wife, Amy Kennedy, children Alivia, Peyton, and Christian

Residence: Machesney Park

Education: I graduated from Belvidere High School in 1989, and I graduated from Northern Illinois University with a sociology-criminology degree in 1994.

Profession: I retired from the Rockford Police Department in 2017 after working there for 20 years with the final 10 years of my career as a police sergeant. Currently, I work at the Rockford Police Department as a civilian employee where I help citizens complete misdemeanor reports and traffic accidents. I also work as a substitute teacher in the Harlem School District.

Memberships and associations: AFSCME

Political experience: None

Endorsements: Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 23, Harlem Democratic League, IBEW Local 364, Ironworkers Local 498, Sheet Metals Workers Local 219, Northwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades, AFSCME, UAW, Mid-American Carpenters Regional Council, Democratic Committee

What are the top three issues in your race and how do you plan to address them if elected?

  1. Public safety: Our families deserve to feel safe and secure here in our community and throughout Winnebago County. In addition to appropriate funding and levels of policing for district 6, both of which I support and will advocate for, we need to build a greater sense of pride in our neighborhoods. Boarded up windows, broken glass, and clutter in yards should not be the norm. We as citizens need to take ownership of our neighborhoods to keep up the standards of a well-kept neighborhood. This will help to reduce crime, increase property values and increase our quality of life.

  2. Mental health crisis/training for officers: In 2018, my brother Raymond Kennedy died from a drug overdose. He was struggling with mental health issues, and the only way he knew how to cope was through illegal narcotics. Our community has to come up with a solution to help individuals going through mental health issues. The numbers show throughout the criminal justice system that most of the individuals encountered by the police have some type of mental illness. Investing in mental healthcare, crisis and de-escalation training, and other resources are vital to reducing crime in our community and helping people in need.

  3. River Bluff Nursing Home: I believe Winnebago County should own and operate the River Bluff Nursing Home. River Bluff provides vital healthcare and housing for some of our most vulnerable residents, and I view the facility as a commitment to them and our community as a whole. We took the first step toward a permanent funding solution for River Bluff this past June when Winnebago County voters overwhelmingly passed a referendum in favor of funding the nursing home. As your county board member, I will follow through on this promise and protect our seniors for years to come.

Name: Keith McDonald

Age: 49

Family: Married 22 years, four children and two grandchildren

Residence: Machesney Park

Education: Some college

Profession: Plant manager in manufacturing

Memberships and associations: 15 years as volunteer firefighter

Political experience: Harlem Township Board and Winnebago County Board

Endorsements: Not available

What are the top three issues in your race and how do you plan to address them if elected?

  1. Public safety: I voted for a resolution calling on the state legislature to repeal the Safe-T Act that empties out our (jails) and handcuffs the police. We need to weigh in on issues like this to support the positions that our sheriff and State’s Attorney have taken on this act. I also support maintaining the funding level for law enforcement.

  2. Property taxes: I voted to hold the line on property tax increases. The property tax has negatively affected property values despite the current uptick in the market.

  3. Infrastructure: I am concerned that our infrastructure needs are not being met. The county board has taken steps in this regard, but more planning needs to take place to address the issue fully. Infrastructure helps drive economic development.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Winnebago County board Keith McDonald Richard Kennedy Rockford police