DuPage Co. board GOP candidates name goals

Although they share backgrounds in law and business, the candidates running in the February Republican primary for DuPage County Board District 3 come to the race with varying priorities.

Attorney Greg Abbott of Woodridge, Dennis Brennan of Hinsdale, who owns a real estate firm, and Brian Krajewski, an attorney and accountant, will face off in the Feb. 2 GOP primary to run for the District 3 seat now held by Thomas Bennington Jr.

District 3 includes all or parts of Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Lemont, Westmont, Willowbrook and Woodridge.

Abbott said his top priority if elected is ethics reform in DuPage. In a Daily Herald questionnaire sent to candidates, Abbot said DuPage has made great strides toward transparent government by working to open its financial books, but more needs to be done.

"I believe the rules governing no bid contracts need to be tightened ... the ethics proposal does not go far enough," Abbott said. "The county should ban campaign contributions from companies, and their principals, who do business with the county. People's faith in government and their leaders has been shaken by rampant pay-to-play politics."

Brennan, a 10-year member of the DuPage County Board of Health and member of Maerker Elementary District 60 school board in Clarendon Hills, said he aims to maintain the high quality of life in DuPage. The county, he said, is strong because of its good schools, attractive parks, good roads, low crime and a low tax burden on families and businesses.

"The other factor is, by and large, we've had good government at the county level," Brennan said. "They've controlled spending under Chairman (Robert) Schillerstrom for about 10 years. So it's a matter of maintaining those things, such as a low tax rate, and bringing economic development in without changing the things we like, such as recreation space."

As the former two-term village president of Downers Grove, Krajewski said his political and professional experience will allow him to ensure economic growth and job development in DuPage, which he names as top goals.

Krajewski also formerly served on the DuPage Water Commission and DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference.

While he held Downers Grove's top post, he said, jobs levels and tax revenues were healthy thanks to local corporations and businesses, including Sara Lee, Met Life and Fry's Electronics. He said he is especially proud of Fry's, since Downers Grove was its first area location, and the company generates more than $100 million in sales annually.

"You've got to make sure we're competitive about attracting these people," said Krajewski. "We need to get businesses to locate here in DuPage to create more job opportunities for our residents and more tax revenues for the county."