DuPage hears feedback on merger proposal

A longtime critic of the DuPage County Election Commission is calling for several changes to a proposal to consolidate the agency with the county clerk's office.

Jean Kaczmarek is concerned about the plan to ask state lawmakers to return election oversight power to the clerk's office by merging it with the election commission. She wants DuPage officials to "take a step back" and "seriously consider what we're bringing to the table."

Under the proposal, the commission would become a division of the clerk's office. In addition, a five-member board of election commissioners would be created to set policy, hold meetings and receive public comment. The county clerk would serve as the panel's chairman.

Supporters say the plan keeps the election commission board, which currently has three seats and must have representatives from both major political parties. Republicans hold two of the three seats.

But during a public hearing Tuesday, Kaczmarek said increasing the election commission board to five members wouldn't change the fact county board Chairman Dan Cronin, a Republican, still would have the power to appoint four of them.

"The proposed appointment process is only different because it calls for county board approval of the chairman's nominees," Kaczmarek said. "That sounds better, but in reality, how often does the county board vote down a chairman's nominee? So the result will be the same, only with more people."

As for a proposed requirement that elected officials "who are members of the respective leading political parties" be consulted, Kaczmarek says that's not clearly defined.

"Instead, we need to work together to find another process to fill commission seats - a process that is fair and open to all," she said.

County board member Elizabeth "Liz" Chaplin, the only Democrat on the board, said the political parties should pick their representatives or the commissioners should be elected.

"It would be a great way to have true bipartisan representation on the election commission," she said.

Kaczmarek and other residents who spoke Tuesday also said the commissioners should be paid less. Right now, they are paid $27,500 a year.

"DuPage must significantly reduce the pay of its commissioners and be committed to do so at this stage," Kaczmarek said.

She also said cost reductions should be made as part of the merger. For example, it's been suggested the commission stop using lobbyists and outside legal counsel.

"This cannot be a consolidation in name only without meaningful savings," Kaczmarek said.

Cronin said during the hearing that he appreciated the suggestions.

"I think they're productive," said Cronin, adding that he's "already thinking about how to incorporate some of these thoughts."

The plan is to have a draft of proposed legislation sometime next month.