DuPage Co. Board Chairman candidates face tough economy

Four high-powered Republicans are seeking their party's nomination for DuPage County Board chairman in the Feb. 2 primary election.

The field features state Sen. Dan Cronin of Elmhurst; Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso; DuPage County Board member Debra Olson of Wheaton; and state Sen. Carole Pankau of Itasca.

The winner will advance to the November election to face Democrat Carole A. Cheney, 48, an attorney from Aurora who has never held elected office and is running unopposed in her party's primary.

All the candidates are hoping to replace Bob Schillerstrom, a Naperville Republican who is stepping down after 12 years in the chairman's post.

The Daily Herald asked the candidates several questions related to the primary. This is the second installment of a five-part look at what the hopefuls in the contested GOP race for chairman had to say.

Q. What is your second-most important campaign issue? Grasso: Government has to consolidate and cooperate horizontally within departments through cross-utilization and technology, and vertically between county, township and municipal government on essential services.Thus, we must look vertically to see where county, township and municipal government can reduce or eliminate overlap and horizontally to look at cross-utilization of personnel and technology with attrition and retirement. Olson: Jobs and the economy. My husband and I are small business owners, so we know firsthand how difficult this economy has made it to make payroll, retain employees and keep the bills paid. We understand that heavy tax burden and excessive regulation diminish competitiveness, profitability and the ability to grow. We also have four young adult children who would like to find well-paying jobs with benefits, which are scarce. DuPage County has long enjoyed a strong economy and low unemployment along with a high quality of life. However, unemployment is now near the state and national levels. The current recession, massive spending and debt of our state and federal governments, and Illinois' added taxes and fees on businesses threaten to force more to move out of Illinois and continue to hinder job growth. DuPage County government has, and must continue to, proactively address this situation. However, government does not create jobs, the private sector does. The county board chairman must actively engage the business community to foster an environment for stability and job growth. DuPage is blessed with a strong base of employers of all sizes and types. DuPage is also home to several colleges, including College of DuPage, which has 30,000 commuters enrolled each year. For the past several years, DuPage has brought more people into the county for work each day than leave the county to go to their job. We are home to first-class hospitals, high-tech research facilities and a National Tech Park, putting us on the cusp of technological innovation and growing employment opportunities in specialized health care industries. Our proximity to major transportation centers, including air, rail and trucking, make DuPage a strategic location for a variety of businesses and a regional player in transportation projects.Utilizing these resources, the best way to advance economic development is a three-pronged approach: First: Taking care of basic county functions. As chairman, I will take the lead in keeping taxes low, working with law enforcement to ensure safe neighborhoods, and long-term planning for infrastructure improvements to keep traffic flowing. Second: Building partnerships. As chairman, I will work with our regional superintendent of schools and our local universities to promote excellent education for students ready to enter the work force or go to college. Maintaining our commitment to DuPage County's public/private economic development organization Choose DuPage is critical to attracting, retaining and assisting businesses to provide well-paying jobs and meaningful employment. The workNet DuPage Career Center is also vital in work force training, development and assistance connecting to employers. I will work with our local chambers of commerce to support small business creation and success. Working closely with municipalities, Pace and Metra on public transit options will also continue. Third: I will work to promote regional projects such as western access to O'Hare and the I-355 Corridor Bus Rapid Transit System. Pankau: Growing the DuPage County economy.Cronin: Public safety represents the largest expenditure of county funds. As the only candidate who has served as an assistant state's attorney, it is important to me personally to ensure the safety of DuPage County residents isn't compromised. The FY 2010 budget has restored many public safety programs to FY 2008 operational maintenance levels after threatened cuts were obviated due to the addition of critical new revenue sources. Overcrowding at the county jail will be an ongoing issue into next year. We can continue to examine whether a regional youth home would be desirable. While other counties adapt to this economy, it might make sense to harness our resources and provide joint services.One looming problem continues to be the impact of state cuts on the county budget, especially the area of probation services. Reimbursement and grants to this program have been cut over 50 percent. As chairman, I will continue to work with Springfield to fully or partially restore state funding. When the economy rebounds and the fiscal and budgetary picture is a little brighter, I do seek to bolster the sheriff's capability to investigate and prosecute cyber crimes involving child sex abuse predators on social networking sites.False9631278Gary Grasso False <div class="infoBox"><h1>More Coverage</h1><div class="infoBoxContent"><div class="infoArea"><h2>Stories</h2><ul class="links"><li><a href="/story/?id=347811">Candidates for DuPage County board chairman outline top campaign issue<span class="date">[1/4/09]</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div>