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Aurora Beacon-News
February 7, 2002
Traffic congestion: Toftoy, Sleezer cite benefits of road
By Mike Norbut
STAFF WRITER
AURORA ó Citing a "congestion problem," in the Fox Valley, state Senate candidate Ken Toftoy announced
his support for the outer-belt freeway Wednesday.
However, Toftoy, who currently serves as Kendall County coroner, supported the road with the caveat that it needed
to be realigned in some places to avoid cutting up farms. If the road could be built more along property lines,
it would be a good idea, he said.
"I know there's a congestion problem; I see trucks going bumper-to-bumper on Route 47," said Toftoy,
who is running in the March 19 Republican primary in the 25th Senate District against incumbent state Sen. Chris
Lauzen, R-Aurora, and Geneva resident Scott Sutterlin. "I think we need the beltway."
Another Kendall County resident running for office, Ed Sleezer, also has taken a firm stance in favor of the
proposed Prairie Parkway. Sleezer, who is running in the 50th House District against incumbent Rep. Patricia Reid
Lindner, R-Sugar Grove, and Plano resident Wade Joyner, called the development of new roads in the area "critical"
because of the incoming growth.
"Anyone who drives our existing roads knows that the daily increase in traffic is a threat to public safety,
the environment and our quality of life," said Sleezer, who currently serves as a Kendall County Board member.
"I applaud (House Speaker Dennis) Hastert for his vision in getting the ball rolling on this issue."
The 25th Senate and 50th House districts cover western Kane and Kendall counties, where the Prairie Parkway is
proposed for construction. The road would link Interstates 88 and 80.
The two candidates' positions put them on islands in their respective races. In the state Senate race, Sutterlin
and Lauzen have both opposed construction of the highway. Meanwhile, in the state representative race, Joyner has
opposed the road unequivocally, while Lindner said she was against it because of its current alignment.
Toftoy cited a poll commissioned by the Aurora organization "Citizens for Common Sense Transportation Planning,"
which found 78 percent of Kane County residents and 73 percent of Kendall County residents favored establishing
a corridor for study as the site of the proposed Prairie Parkway.
"I think the people against it are speaking louder than the people for it," Toftoy said.
Toftoy thinks they'll be speaking about it for a long time, too. Based on debates about completed highways, including
the North-South Tollway, Toftoy predicted the freeway wouldn't be built for 20 years.
"I'll be retired by the time it's built," he said. "They were talking about (the North-South Tollway)
back in the '60s."