DuPage candidates pledge to end board pensions
Most of the Republican hopefuls in the heavily contested DuPage County Board District 2 race say they won’t take a pension if they’re elected.
But three have signed an online pledge to eliminate the county board’s publicly funded pension plan. Those candidates — Mike Loftus, Rafael Rivadeneira and Zachary Wilson — agree that being a county board member is a part-time job that doesn’t warrant a $50,000-a-year salary and benefits.
“I’m speaking on behalf of constituents,” said Rivadeneira of Elmhurst. “They think it’s outrageous that part-time elected officials who voluntarily chose to the be elected officials demand $50,000 a year and a pension, plus health care benefits.”
Whether Rivadeneira, Wilson and Loftus can follow through with their promise remains to be seen.
They are among eight candidates seeking the GOP nomination for one of three District 2 seats on the county board during the March 20 primary. The five other Republican challengers are: Sean Noonan of Elmhurst; Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni; Jim Long of Downers Grove; Charles Mueller of Elmhurst; and Oak Brook Trustee Elaine Zannis.
Thirteen current county board members are enrolled in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Board members become vested after eight years. After 20 years, board members are eligible to receive 80 percent of their final year’s salary.
During a Daily Herald endorsement interview this week, DiCianni was the only District 2 candidate who said he would sign up for the pension if he wins election to the county board.
DiCianni also says he would continue to serve as the mayor of Elmhurst but donate that position’s $8,400 annual pay back to the city or its charities. He would keep the entire DuPage board member salary.
“I think I’m well worth it because I’m a businessman who runs a multimillion-dollar company,” said DiCianni, founder and CEO of DiCianni Graphics, Inc. “It’s a half-billion-dollar budget that the county board oversees. This is not playtime.”
Noonan called the salary for board members “generous.” Still, he said $50,000 a year is appropriate for someone who has near-perfect meeting attendance and participates in board discussions.
Zannis said the pay for board members should be consistently reviewed and adjusted according to economic conditions. Long said he could support cutting the salary of board members to save taxpayers money.
Wilson and Loftus both said the salary for board members should be reduced every time they cut the pay of county employees. “When the elected officials ask the rank and file to take a cut in pay — and then don’t take one themselves — that’s failed leadership,” said Wilson, a Lombard trustee.
Loftus said he doesn’t buy the argument that the salary and benefits are needed to attract qualified people to run for county board. “I think the qualified people that have the heart to do it will step forward because they want to do it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mueller said he hasn’t taken a position on the issue of board members’ pay.
The three GOP primary winners in District 2 will face Democrat Elizabeth “Liz” Chaplin of Downers Grove during the November general election.
District 2 includes all or parts of Addison, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Lisle, Lombard, Naperville, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park, Westmont and Woodridge.