Why wait? New DuPage board members already prepping for job
One week after six freshman Democrats were elected to the DuPage County Board, three of them attended meetings Tuesday to get a jump on what they will be doing for the next four years.
The six, along with other county board members and countywide elected officials, won't be sworn in until Dec. 3.
But that didn't stop Sadia Covert, who won a District 5 seat, from attending her first finance committee meeting.
She said she wanted to observe the board in action before an orientation for new members on Wednesday.
"It is a lot to learn at the beginning," said Covert, an attorney from Naperville. "I'm just trying to familiarize myself with all the different committees and different issues. I want to make sure that I can serve the best that I can for the people of District 5."
Like Covert, Mary FitzGerald Ozog of Glen Ellyn said she wanted to get right to work by attending Tuesday's regular board meeting.
"There's definitely a lot to learn," she said. "But I'm really looking forward to serving. It's exciting."
FitzGerald Ozog, a substitute teacher who has served on the Glenbard High School District 87 board, won one of two available seats representing District 4.
Sheila Rutledge has been attending meetings regularly for a year, so it was no surprise she was at the county board meeting after being elected to one of two available seats representing District 6.
"I have been a pretty standard fixture on Tuesday mornings," the Warrenville resident said.
Before the election, Democrats held just one seat on the 18-member county board and no countywide posts. When it was over, Democrats had captured seven of 12 available county board seats - including at least one in all six districts.
The other new Democrats on the county board are Ashley Selmon of Addison, Julie Renehan of Hinsdale and Dawn DeSart of Aurora. Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Chaplin of Downers Grove won her reelection bid.
Another Democrat - Jean Kaczmarek of Glen Ellyn - won her first elected position by defeating Republican incumbent Paul Hinds to become the next county clerk.
County board Chairman Dan Cronin, who narrowly won his third term, said he welcomes having seven Democrats on the board.
"I am pleased to roll up my sleeves and work side by side and collaborate with these new members of the board," Cronin said. "Good government doesn't know whether you're a Democrat or a Republican. Good government is good government."