Voters will have the chance to change McHenry County’s form of government via referendum when they head to the polls in November, under a petition filed Monday by state Rep. Jack Franks.

Franks, D-Marengo, said he collected more than 1,500 signatures – three times more than the required amount – to place a referendum question on the Nov. 6 ballot that asks voters to change the county’s government to an executive form. If approved, the move would mean that the County Board chairman would be elected at large rather than by the board’s representatives.

The motivation behind having a chairman popularly elected is about accountability and transparency, Franks said. He rejected the notion that his petition drive started from a personal feud with Chairman Ken Koehler, R-Crystal Lake, and is a veiled attempt to knock the chairman out of power.