New DuPage chairman Cronin takes center stage

Dan Cronin realizes he won't get a honeymoon period as the next DuPage County Board chairman.

There's too much work to do.

The former state senator already has begun the process of finding a replacement for outgoing State's Attorney Joseph Birkett. Cronin even hopes to name Birkett's successor on Dec. 13, when Birkett becomes an appellate judge.

Cronin also must fill seven county seats on the DuPage Water Commission, which delivers Lake Michigan drinking water to more than a dozen communities. Municipal leaders are under the same deadline to appoint six of their own representatives on the 13-member water panel, which has been rocked by fallout from fiscal mismanagement.

And soon after he's sworn in Monday night, Cronin said he plans to request a performance audit of the county's expenses to gain a better understanding of DuPage's fiscal condition.

“There's many challenges,” he said. “I want to show people that we can do it right here in DuPage County. I want to take ideas about ethical government, transparent government and fiscal restraint and put them into action.”

But first, Cronin might have to overcome differences that developed between himself and county board members during his campaign to succeed three-term Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, who didn't seek re-election.

Cronin, a 51-year-old Elmhurst Republican, didn't shy away from controversial topics during the race. That included speaking out against a $70 million capital improvement borrowing plan that will cost taxpayers $125 million over 30 years.

Cronin said he believes his opposition to the borrowing plan was the reason the county board in September yanked authority from the chairman position by seizing control of appointment, hiring and other powers. The new rules also affect how county legislative districts are drawn.

“It was done in the heat of the moment,” Cronin said. “They passed these rules in that climate after I had been vocally and outwardly opposed to their actions. I think it was sort of a reaction or retaliation.”

But that's OK, Cronin immediately went on to say.

“It's behind us,” he said. “We've got a lot of work in front of us. There's a lot of things to do. We need to promote a different way of doing business out here. And I trust, I expect, that they will be with me on that.”

One way Cronin reached out to board members is by complying with the new rules and releasing the names of all seven candidates seeking appointment to replace Birkett. While Cronin has the authority to pick a new state's attorney, the county board has to approve his choice.

Cronin said he notified county board members about who applied “to open up the process and start the deliberations” before the nomination is made. He said he is looking for “an experienced prosecutor, a tough law-and-order person” who has the trust and confidence of the law enforcement community.

“I think this whole state's attorney issue would be a lot more manageable if it came up three months from now,” Cronin admits. “But this is not the hand of cards that was dealt to me. So we'll deal with it and do the right thing.”

When it comes to the water commission appointments, Cronin said he is looking for leaders in the business community who can ”play a meaningful role in turning that agency around.”

Cronin pushed a reform measure in Springfield after the commission accidentally spent its $69 million in reserves through poor accounting practices and lackadaisical financial oversight. He eventually compromised with DuPage municipal leaders on the reform package and settled for all water commissioners resigning by the end of the year, the county board having more oversight of important hirings and eliminating by 2016 a quarter-cent sales tax that goes to the commission.

“It's incumbent on me to make appointments that lead the water commission in a different direction to become more fiscally responsible, more transparent,” Cronin said.

As for his long-term goals as chairman, Cronin said he hopes to support education by promoting the construction of charter schools and a “teaching academy” where teachers can improve their skills.

While some, including Schillerstrom, question whether the technology park near DuPage Airport in West Chicago will be completed, Cronin remains more optimistic.

“It's a large piece of property in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country,” he said. “I believe in the long run it is a valuable resource and has potential. But I just think these are some tough times.”

Cronin is equally optimistic when it comes to a proposed a western access road to O'Hare International Airport becoming a reality. He said he recently spoke to Gov. Pat Quinn about the long-sought project.

“I know he's committed to it,” Cronin said. “There's a few issues that need to be addressed, most notably the funding to pay for it. But I believe you are going to see in a relatively short period of time a rolling out of exactly how it's going to all come together.”

In the meantime, Cronin said he has no intention of changing the approach that served him well for nearly two decades as a state lawmaker.

“I want to be successful,” he said. “But I am not one of these guys who is going to go along just to get along. I'm an outspoken guy. I have always fought for reform. I believe that the county board members share that same interest. I'm confident that we will stand together and accomplish good deeds for the taxpayers of the county.”