Tollway board member David Andalcio steps down

A tollway board member keen on minority contracting issues and who drew attention for his large donations to Gov. Rod Blagojevich has stepped down.

David Andalcio of Hinsdale said in his resignation letter Friday that he needed more time to focus on his business and therefore had to resign, effective immediately. Andalcio heads up Wynndalco Enterprises, which primarily works on renewable energy such as wind power.

The Daily Herald reported this summer that he was also promoting his company as a consultant for tollway work. The company's Web site featured pictures of the Illinois tollway and referenced his accomplishments on the tollway board.

Inquires about the business led Andalcio to remove most of those elements from the Web site at the urging of tollway officials. His company was never hired by the Illinois tollway or other tollways.

Andalcio was appointed to the board by Blagojevich in 2003. He had given more than $25,000 to Blagojevich's campaign fund.

During his tenure at the tollway, Andalcio, a former chairman of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, would repeatedly press for minority-owned companies to get contracts and subcontract set asides.

Andalcio's own company is a registered minority-owned subcontractor with Metra, the publicly-funded commuter rail system. However, he said this summer his company had never landed work for Metra or other state agencies.

As part of the nine-member tollway board, Andalcio oversaw the expansion of Open Road Tolling and the extension of I-355 south, among other major projects.

"I am deeply saddened by this decision and I would like you to know it was an absolute honor to serve as a Director for the past six years," Andalcio penned in a letter given to Gov. Pat Quinn on Friday.