Gilgis to quit DuPage County Board

DuPage County Board member Kyle Gilgis announced Tuesday she is stepping down at the end of August, a year before her term expires.

The 59-year-old Downers Grove Republican has been with the board since 1999 when she was appointed by Chairman Robert Schillerstrom. Voters elected her for the first time in 2000.

Before coming to the county board, Gilgis served 10 years as Downers Grove Township clerk.

"When you put in 20 years in on a job, there comes a time when you know to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em," Gilgis said. "Maybe I'll do a some nonpolitical, non-county board reading or take care of my garden a little more than I do now."

It leaves the male-dominated board with one less woman as well.

"I'm not so concerned about gender as I am about someone who can do this as a full-time job," she said. "There's a lot to be said about someone who does this full-time and the residents can call and have run out to see their problem and their neighborhood."

Gilgis does not have thoughts on who could replace her, but she believes her decision to leave now instead of serve out the remainder of her term will give her Republican replacement an advantage at the next election.

Gilgis' replacement will be the second board appointment this year. Schillerstrom recently appointed John Zediker after Michael Connelly was elected to a state representative seat in November. Several people applied for that post, including Gerry Cassioppi, who had lost a three-way race for two county board seats in that same election.

Schillerstrom confidante Tom Bennington also lost his seat in November and is likely a front-runner to replace Gilgis. But some board members believe it will be hard for Schillerstrom - who is also seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination - to appoint an ousted board member when he passed on Cassioppi to replace Connelly. Schillerstrom has 60 days from Gilgis' retirement date to nominate a replacement.

"If Tom called me I would certainly take his call and I certainly wouldn't have any qualms about calling him," Schillerstrom said. "But I'm not willing to speculate on who may be a candidate at this point and who may not be a candidate."

Schillerstrom didn't ask Gilgis to reconsider, instead congratulating her on her decision, she said.

"I would like her to stay," Schillerstrom said. "I think very highly of Kyle."

Gilgis' departure also leaves a hole at the top of the board's influential development committee. Democrat Vice Chairman Tony Michelassi of Aurora will take over control of that committee, according to board rules. It's the first time a Democrat has been chairman of a county board committee in decades.