Candidates for DuPage County Board positions debate in Naperville
Both agree eliminating jobs through attrition and avoiding layoffs is the best way to trim the largest expense from the DuPage County Board budget but Fifth District Republican incumbent John Zediker and Democrat challenger Brian Duewel disagree on where those savings should end up.
The opponents were two of four candidates vying for county board seats to participate in a forum hosted Thursday night by the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation and seen live by the nine audience members in attendance. Sixth District Republican candidate Bob Larsen and Democratic challenger for County Chairman Carole Cheney also participated.
"I favor a reduction in head count as it is easily the largest expense in the operational budget. I would advocate doing it through layoffs but rather through attrition," Zediker said. "I would then advocate for additional investment in our public infrastructure, our stormwater system as well as our traffic systems and investing in our economic development."
Zediker pointed to the county board's recent decision to borrow $70 million to pay for a laundry list of public infrastructure projects including $12 million for new generators at the county complex and $6 million in improvements to the DuPage County Convalescent Center.
Duewel agreed some of projects are essential but said the county should have done a better job budgeting for them annually.
"I agree eliminating jobs through attrition is a great way to save money, but when it comes back to spending I differ with John on the $70 million borrowing program that just passed," Duewel said. "I don't think borrowing $70 million at a time when the economy is in such bad shape is a good idea. I think most projects in the bill need to be funded, but I think the county needs to proactively look and put these things into the budget year after year rather than wait until they are in disarray and borrowing the money to fix them up."
In the Sixth District, Larsen complimented the county board for being more fiscally responsible than the state and nation as a whole but said he believes the budgetary focus should be on the "primary function of government."
"That is to provide for the safety of the public, make sure we have a court system that provides law and order and provide infrastructure so that business can be built and people can live their lives in peace and prosperity."
Chair challenger Cheney also favored a conservative approach to the county's recently unveiled $460 million spending plan while being sure to support small businesses within the county.
"I would favor a slight decrease in the budget as everyone is getting less money in. We have issues with the state not providing the monies expected," she said. "I think the county needs to tighten its belt the same way people at home are tightening their belts. I think we need to increase service and decrease spending by using the health department as a model for other departments."
The four candidates also debated funding levels for the DuPage County Health Department, control of the DuPage County Water Commission and compensation levels for board members.
District 5 covers portions of Naperville, Aurora, Lisle, Warrenville and Woodridge.
District 6 covers all or portions of West Chicago, Warrenville, Winfield, Wayne, Wheaton, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Aurora, Naperville and Roselle.