ST. CHARLES – Both candidates seeking to become Kane County’s next chief executive believe the county government is dysfunctional.

However, the nominees for the position of Kane County Board chairman, Republican State Sen. Chris Lauzen and Democratic former St. Charles Mayor Sue Klinkhamer, disagree over the underlying cause.

Thursday, Lauzen, of Aurora, and Klinkhamer, of St. Charles, squared off before a crowd of several dozen local government officials and business leaders from the Tri-Cities during a candidates’ forum sponsored by local chambers of commerce.