Will County Gazette

Will County Republican Party Chairwoman Kathy Havel hopes that she and another Republican will win two District 11 seats on the Will County Board in November's general election.

"Kathy Havel has been a respected leader in our community for many years," her campaign's Facebook page states. "Passionate about growing and strengthening the party and its influence in our county and our state, Kathy has served as Republican Precinct Committeeman, Chairman of the Wheatland Township Organization and the Will County Republican Organization and as Deputy State Central Committeeman with the Illinois Republican Party. She has also been an active Township volunteer."

Havel, a Naperville resident, and fellow Republican Julie Berkowicz defeated incumbent Republicans Suzanne Hart and Chuck Maher in the March primary elections. They now face Democrat Michelle Cowan in the November general election.

Kathy Havel

Berkowicz, also of Naperville, lost her bid for Naperville City Council in 2017.

Havel and Berkowicz are running as a slate in November for the two District 11 seats up for election to the 26-member Will County Board, and the two maintain a joint campaign Facebook page.

Will County Board District 11 also includes Wheatland.

Havel, a University of Illinois Medical Center graduate, worked for 20 years in disease research, sales and management in the healthcare industry, according to information on her campaign's Facebook page.  

"In 1998, she returned home to Illinois to raise her niece and two nephews who were headed to foster care," the Facebook page states. "Semi-retired, Kathy is an independent contractor in sales and merchandising.”

Havel is also a caregiver and advocate for her aging parents, enabling them to remain in their home of nearly 40 years, the page states.