DuPage chairman frustrated with redistricting efforts

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin is expressing frustration over ongoing efforts to redraw the county’s electoral boundaries.

However, members of the county board committee charged with configuring the future legislative map say Cronin’s concerns about lack of transparency are unfounded.

“This is the most open redistricting process DuPage County has ever seen,” said Brien Sheahan, one of the seven county board members on the redistricting committee. “I don’t think people should worry about not having access to information.”

Sheahan’s comments came Tuesday after Cronin raised issues about the committee’s proposed contract with Schirott, Luetkehans and Garner, PC. The panel is recommending the county board agree to pay the Itasca law firm up to $125,000 to serve as a consultant during the remapping process.

The county’s legislative map currently is divided into six districts, with three board members per district.

Before the consulting contract is approved, Cronin wants a confidentiality clause revised. He said he believes the existing wording could prevent him and county board members who aren’t on the redistricting committee from getting access to information.

“Open it up,” Cronin said. “The confidential information that this consultant has — and the taxpayers are paying for to the tune of $125,000 — ought to be information that’s open and accessible to every member of the county board, including the chairman.”

Board member Pat O’Shea, who is chairman of the redistricting committee, insists it’s not necessary to revise the contract. He said every county board member and Cronin will have access to information from the consultant.

O’Shea also addressed Cronin’s request that hearings and forums be held to seek public input on proposed maps.

“Ultimately, everything we do is going to be brought to the public,” O’Shea said. “There’s going to be hearings on the maps. People are going to be able to see them and give us their remarks, and we’ll take those into consideration.”

Cronin said he wants the final map to fairly represent the political and socioeconomic diversity of the county.

“I am concerned that we demonstrate here in DuPage County how to do it right,” Cronin said. “We have an opportunity to engage in a very, very important matter that has consequences for the next 10 years.”

Legislation approved earlier this month by state lawmakers will give some county board chairmen — including those in DuPage and Will — authority to draft their own legislative map proposals. Still, Cronin said he would prefer to work with the county’s redistricting committee.

“This is a time to be forward-thinking in the county’s overall approach to government and representation,” Cronin said. “Voters sent a strong and unequivocal message last year that they want smaller government that costs less and is more responsive to taxpayers. Formatting a map that responds to these demands is in the best interest of taxpayers and elected officials alike.”