Bartlett Democrat appointed to DuPage Board of Election Commissioners

A retired union leader soon will become the next Democratic Party representative on the bipartisan DuPage Board of Election Commissioners.

John Boske has been appointed by county board Chairman Dan Cronin to the three-person panel that oversees the electoral process in DuPage County. The 62-year-old Bartlett resident will finish the term of West Chicago Democrat Art Ludwig, who is moving out of the state.

"I'm really excited about it," Boske said. "I've always been interested in public service."

He's expected to attend his first meeting of the election commission on April 4. His term will run through Jan. 29, 2018.

Boske said he will bring a great deal of oversight experience to the position.

Until retiring last July, he served five years as president of the DuPage County Building Trades Council. He also spent seven years as the president and business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 265 in Carol Stream.

He said the building trades council recommended him for the election commissioner post when it learned Ludwig was stepping down.

Cronin doesn't need county board approval to appoint election commissioners, who are paid nearly $28,000 a year. State law requires both political parties be represented, but Republicans hold two of the election board's three seats.

The two other members of the election panel are Cathy Ficker Terrill, who is an Elmhurst Republican, and Naperville Republican James S. Lowe.

Cronin said Ludwig told him he was moving about three months ago.

"We've been sort of planning for a transition," said Cronin, adding that Boske was "highly recommended" for the position by Ludwig and others.

Cronin and Boske got to know each other while Boske served on the Elgin-O'Hare Western Access Advisory Committee from 2010 and 2012. Boske was appointed to that panel by former Gov. Pat Quinn.

"He's a fine, upstanding, virtuous, smart, fair-minded Democrat," Cronin said of Boske.