DuPage Dems accused GOP board members of stifling public input

Democratic candidates seeking to unseat a bevy of Republican DuPage County Board members in November are accusing the incumbents of stifling public participation in the latest volley of unrequited stump speeches.

For their part, incumbents point to their record of increasing transparency in government over the past few years through legislative action. However, they have not banded together - as the Democrats have - to attack their opposition.

Tuesday's press conference on the steps of the county administration building is the second one this month for the aggressive challengers.

District 3 Democratic candidate Karol Sole said the twice-monthly board meetings allowed for little public input and served only as a "rubber stamp" for decisions made in committee.

"If any real discussion occurs, it must be in the meetings of the 14 committees, or on the golf course," she said, "because it isn't at these board meetings."

Many of the Democratic challengers said the public would be able to participate more regularly if the board held its meetings at night, like they did Tuesday. Most of the time, the board meets at 10 a.m.

"There really is no good excuse to not hold all meetings during nights and weekends, so why don't they?" asked District 1 Democratic candidate Rifat Sivisoglu. "Possibly because the current board members feel it would be an inconvenience to them."

Board members say this isn't the first time they've heard this argument and the idea isn't really cost-effective because of the staff overtime night and weekend meetings create.

"I've been on the board for four years and I can understand the concept, but the reality is that all the night meetings we have had we've had the same or fewer people participating," said District 1 board member Paul Fichtner. "We try to strike a balance, but for some of these people it will never be enough."