Hillary Kurzawa, a Frankfort Township trustee, was selected by party leaders for a two-year term as chair of the Will County Republican Central Committee, succeeding Christina Clausen, who did not seek reelection.
Kurzawa, the past secretary of the Will County Republican Central Committee, was a four-year chair of the Will County Young Republicans and secretary of the Illinois Federation of Young Republicans since 2025.
Kurzawa, 40, has been a Frankfort Township trustee since 2022 and works in the Homer Township assessor’s office.
Will County Board member Katie Deane-Schlottman, of Joliet, was named the Will County Republican Central Committee secretary.
Kurzawa, a lifelong Will County resident, said she is committed to working with the county’s precinct committee persons and campaigning for Republican candidates in the November election. She said she supports the statewide Republican candidates, but is focused more locally on the policymakers that affect people’s day-to-day lives.
Property taxes, spending and transparency are among the top concerns she heard from talks with constituents, she said.
Kurzawa said the party is looking to pick up a few more Republican seats on the County Board, which for years has been evenly split among Republicans and Democrats. In the event of a tie, the vote now swings to the Democrats with County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, a Democrat, casting the deciding vote.
The party is also looking to reelect its two Republican countywide office holders — Regional Superintendent of Schools Lisa Caparelli-Ruff and County Clerk Annette Parker.
Kurzawa said Parker’s victory in 2024 was a boost of energy for the party. Parker was elected during a special election after Democratic Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry, now Lauren O’Hara, stepped down to take a position as the Joliet city clerk.
Kurzawa said the county’s committee is also promoting Republican candidate James “Jim” Reilly over Democrat Patrick Jones in the sheriff’s race and Republican Carmen Maurella over incumbent Democrat Tim Brophy in the treasurer’s race.
“I feel our candidates are really present in the community,” Kurzawa said. “They love having conversations with our residents and gauging what our residents need.”
Kurzawa said the November races are likely to be decided by independents, and said the committee will reach across the vast geographical area of the county so “no township or area feels left behind.”
Will County Democrats will hold their county convention May 4, according to party chair William “Billy” Morgan, who was selected in December after chair Burke Schuster stepped down.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter.
