Cindy Cronin Cahill: 2024 candidate for DuPage County Board District 1

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: DuPage County Board District 1

City: Elmhurst

Age: 66

Occupation: Certified public accountant

Previous offices held: Current DuPage County Board member, former Elmhurst Treasurer, and former State of Illinois Liquor Control Commissioner

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I am running for re election to the DuPage County Board because I have a passion for service. I grew up in a large Irish Catholic family and was taught the values of family, faith and service to the community.

I am a lifelong resident of DuPage County and have raised my five children here. I want them and all DuPage families, and future generations to experience all the wonderful things DuPage County has to offer; safe communities, great schools, and a thriving business economy.

As a CPA, I run a business in DuPage County and am invested in the community. DuPage County has a budget of $600 million and I want to continue to contribute my financial expertise as a board member to best represent the people of DuPage.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

I was elected to serve on the DuPage County Board two years ago and my work has just begun. As a current licensed CPA, and a former auditor of large governmental entities, I am an expert in reading and understanding financial statements and budgets. The county’s budget is $600 million and I look for areas to save taxpayer dollars.

My contributions to the board include my advice to apply $10 million in surplus to pay down debt. This initiative saved taxpayer dollars and was passed unanimously with bipartisan support. I also believe in preserving the residential integrity of a community with responsible development and have done so as a board member with bipartisan support.

I listen to the residents of DuPage and the municipal leaders to work toward a solution for what is best. I am honored to have been appointed to serve on Chair Deb Conroy’s DuPage Council for Strengthening the System for Mental Health and Addiction. We are working toward solutions to help those in need.

Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.

As a professional woman CPA and a trusted advisor to my clients, I understand the importance of balancing the budget.

With fiscal restraint, we must provide excellent county services with no tax increase. Families are struggling with skyrocketing inflation, and grocery bills are increasing. As a mother of five children, I prioritize spending to balance our budget with two working parents. The cost of government services has increased too. I believe I possess the financial acumen along with a commitment to the fiduciary responsibility as a board member.

Future threats that need to be addressed are the increase in crime and increase in resources for our most vulnerable population, including food and shelter.

The SAFE-T Act set mandates without related funding and challenges understaffed law enforcement, with violent offenders back on the streets. We must ensure that the Sheriff and the State's Attorney have sufficient resources to keep our families, neighborhoods and businesses safe.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

Yes, there needs to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board. I work in a bipartisan manner to deliberate on ideas, policies and programs that fulfill my oath to do the best for the citizens.

Members need to work together in a collaborative manner to find concrete solutions to the pressing issues facing the county. Despite having differing views, the objective of our actions and initiatives should be the same — to work in the best interest of our citizens. Politics should be left at the door. All members should abide by respect.

Respectfully listening to other members views is imperative. We cannot criticize someone for a differing opinion.

I also have had small group lunches and gatherings in order to “break bread” together and get to know each other outside of the board room. We need to relate to each other as mothers, fathers, neighbors, and friends in order to find common ground, to bond. Mutual respect will bring about compromise and wise policy.

Earlier this year, some suggested that the 1996 state law that established a separate forest preserve board in DuPage County should be undone and that the forest preserve should be returned to the control of the county board. Do you support that idea? Why or why not?

I do not support returning the Forest Preserve District to the control of the county board. The forest preserve elected officials are experts in their area. We need officials who are dedicated and experienced in the preservation and conservation of one of our most prized assets in DuPage County — our forest preserves.

The county board is focused on the $600 million budget and providing services to our constituents. The Forest Preserve Board has a specific mission that should be managed by those knowledgeable elected officials.

What are your thoughts about the condition of the county fairgrounds in Wheaton? Should the county play a greater role in improving and maintaining the structures on the property?

The county fairgrounds is an underutilized asset of DuPage County. This asset needs to be used to benefit our county and its taxpayers. Currently, the county board is doing a feasibility study, paid for by ARPA funds and managed by Choose DuPage, which will look into the fairgrounds as a possible location for a new arts initiative.

We need a long-range plan for the fairgrounds that will maximize and perhaps monetize, this asset while not relying on taxpayer dollars nor causing disruption to the neighborhood. This has been discussed for years and I am glad that this study may bring for some feasible options.

What are your thoughts about the consolidation? Should the county play a greater role in streamlining and consolidating local government? Why or why not?

The county should and does work together with local governments. For instance, I voted to allocate ARPA funds to the local food pantries including the township food pantries with rising food insecurity.

Also, the DuPage Sheriff’s office created in 2019 and operates the MERIT (Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team) commission to work with local government’s law enforcement to consolidate the major crimes task force and felony investigation.

The county works with local governments in the office homeland security. It is critical that we evaluate the current processes that may assist local governments and look for potential consolidation. Sharing information with our local leaders and streaming operations is essential for good government for the best of the people.

What role should the county play in combating the opioid crisis?

In 2023, there were 114 total overdose deaths in DuPage County. Of that total, 80 were from fentanyl and 10 from heroin, and the remaining were other drugs. But the key statistic is that fentanyl is a scourge in our society and does not seem to be letting up in DuPage County. We need to keep up the education in the schools, Narcan accessibility, and partnering with local leaders to make the youth aware of the deadly danger of fentanyl.

I was appointed to serve on the DuPage Council for Strengthening the System for Mental Health and Addiction by Chair Conroy. I am honored to serve with such great leaders in mental health and addiction. I am a mother of five adult children and have seen many of their friends and neighbors experience problems.

I also voted and supported the Crisis Recovery Center which is the first in its kind to care for those with mental health issues and addiction in DuPage County, regardless of insurance. The Crisis Recovery Center opens in April of 2025.

What role should the county play in increasing affordable housing in the region?

In the past year, the county has invested $5 million in affordable housing from ARPA funds. I voted yes to allocate the ARPA funds to affordable housing. As a government leader, we must care for the most vulnerable population in our county.

All members of the county board serve on the affordable housing committee. The county also has DuPage PADS, a permanent housing site for those unhoused individuals and families. I have visited and met with the leaders of DuPage Pads and support their programs.