Unseating an incumbent and knocking a third party off the grid, Scott Sinnett has emerged as Dundee Township’s GOP highway commissioner candidate by a several-hundred vote lead, according to preliminary results from Tuesday's primary.
Having won his challenge against Larry Braasch and candidate Michael Rogers, Dundee resident Sinnett will now run unopposed for the position in the April 4 consolidated general election.
Sinnett picked up 795 votes compared to Braasch’s 226, while Rogers received only 315 votes.
The winner ran a campaign based squarely on transparency. Sinnett has been a resident of the township for over 30 years and has run his own excavating business for approximately the same length of time. He has literally has dug in to the district as the owner and operator of Sinnett Excavating in Barrington.
Having collected several public endorsements via social media along the way to the primary win, Sinnett described his business experience as inclusive of a solid foundation in management, personnel and organizational skills, as well as hands-on equipment maintenance — from backhoes to board meetings.
Campaigning on a platform of experience and trust, Sinnett consistently indicated throughout his run a strong desire to enhance the useful lifespan of equipment and to enhance the relationship between the supervisor’s office and road department.
“The Road District has overlapping … needs with the Open Space and Cemetery Departments,” he said.
Sinnett envisions clearer interdepartmental working agreements to increase effectiveness both of equipment and personnel.
Additionally, he conveyed strong agreement with a Dundee Township Republican resolution that takes a position against the practice of hiring relatives.
“Township jobs are good jobs and should be open to all residents,” Sinnett said. “When elected officials hire relatives, it is inevitable that taxpayers feel that family members have an unfair advantage.”
While campaigning, Sinnett said he had experience managing employees, projects and budgets with "honesty and a great reputation.”
“I believe it is time for a change in the current leadership of the Highway Commissioner Department and I am prepared to handle the job," he said.
Taking measurable pride in collective work, enterprise and family, Sinnett took to sharing everyday accomplishments along with underscoring ethical governance during his run for the GOP slot in the Dundee Township Highway Commissioner race.
Alongside clips of his excavating business’ day-to-day operations, the man behind the backhoe offered his position on government—emphasizing honesty and neutrality — during a Dundee Township event streamed on Facebook during the campaign, where he reiterated his anti-nepotism stance.
“I'm in support of intergovernmental agreement with the township supervisor's office hopefully to save taxpayers some money,” Sinnett said. “I feel trust and fair hiring practices are needed in the highway commissioner's office.”
During the primary race for the position, which began on Feb. 13 and culminated with Tuesday’s results, Sinnett deftly brushed off the typical tactics of other contenders. He rebutted minor criticism from Rogers attempting to discredit him.
“I'm not here to shake hands and name drop … I'm here to do the job I've been doing for 40 years," he said.
Sinnett told the McHenry Times that he knows “every piece of equipment and … truck the township has in the inventory.” Sinnett grew up with an inherent awareness of infrastructure since his father served as a highway official.
The highway commissioner oversees over 50 miles of roadway, managing snow and ice removal, repair, signage and safety, drainage and other maintenance matters, according to the Dundee Township website.
"I am deeply grateful to the voters of Dundee Township for trusting me with the operation of the road district," Sinnett said Tuesday night in a Facebook post. "I will not let you down. I will run the township highway department like I've run my business, with integrity, honesty and visible accountability."
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