Quinn to visit DuPage Wednesday

Gov. Pat Quinn Wednesday will travel to DuPage County to sign legislation that was at least partly inspired by financial scandals involving two governmental agencies there.

The proposal will give suburban county leaders more authority to get budget details and other financial information from the independent boards and commissions they appoint.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said the legislation will give county leaders the ability “to set professional standard policies related to personnel, procurement, finance and ethical standards to ensure taxpayer money is used properly.”

“It is my intention that these new safeguards will prevent the mistakes of the past,” Cronin said in a statement.

Quinn is planning to sign the legislation at DuPage's administrative building in Wheaton at 1 p.m., said spokeswoman Brie Callahan.

Earlier in the day, Quinn will also stop in Naperville to sign legislation dealing with sudden infant death syndrome and visit Elmhurst to approve a plan dealing with missing persons cases.

The plan Quinn is signing in Wheaton comes after Cronin appealed to state lawmakers after a series of federal audits showed the DuPage Housing Authority misspent or failed to account for more than $10 million. And the DuPage Water Commission accidentally spent $69 million in reserves because of poor accounting.

The proposal was sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, Sen. Ron Sandack, a Downers Grove Republican and Rep. Michael Connelly, a Lisle Republican.

“I think he recognizes it promotes good government and accountability,” Sandack said.

County board member Jeff Redick said just the fact that Quinn decided to sign the legislation in Wheaton is “interesting.”

“Is this a new day?” said Redick, a Republican from Elmhurst. “You don't normally see a Democratic governor in the county board chambers of DuPage County.”