GOP DuPage board hopefuls want to kick start ethics reforms

With proposals for ethics and campaign contribution reforms stalled in committee, Republican DuPage County Board candidates in the Feb. 2 primary for District 3 and District 5 say something should be done to speed up the efforts.

It's been nine months since an ad hoc group made ethics and campaign finance reform recommendations to the board's finance committee and very few of those have been implemented.

"I think they're taking their time because they're worried about losing the big money pot," said District 5 challenger Joe Wozniak, a 66-year-old retiree from Naperville who currently serves as a regional school board trustee. "The board likes to consider vendors as possible contributors. I want to know how you can make proper voting decisions when you're basically on the payroll of these vendors."

Incumbent District 5 board member John Zediker, who was appointed to the seat at the start of the year, said the board should enact some of the recommendations, but also slow down to make sure it does things right in other areas.

"The danger is creating too much bureaucracy," the 37-year-old developer from Naperville said. "The county is way ahead of others in transparency and there's a process these issues need to be put through. When you do things in committee and the issues are properly debated, it gives voters a little more confidence in government."

Wozniak attacked Zediker for taking campaign contributions from county vendors, saying he is limiting contributors to a $100 maximum donation.

"I believe the public can give a candidate whatever they want, but I would say nothing from the vendors," Wozniak said.

Zediker said he's followed state election laws regarding his campaign financing.

"I've loaned myself $10,000 for my campaign and that will constitute the healthiest chunk of my finances," he said. "I've taken very limited amounts from vendors and it's all been disclosed."

There is no incumbent in the District 3 race because the former seat-holder retired this past summer and the current board member in that seat has no plans to retain it. The Republican field for the office includes former Downers Grove Mayor Brian Krajewski, Hinsdale Township High School District 86 board President Dennis Brennan and former Assistant Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Abbott agrees with a total contribution ban from county vendors.

"It's part of the reason politicians are distrusted," the 46-year-old from Woodridge said. "You shouldn't take one penny from vendors. I don't know how anyone thinks you can oversee contracts for vendors when you're taking their money to finance your campaigns."

Krajewski said he understands why some of the proposed reform initiatives are taking so long, but he agrees some ideas could be implemented immediately.

"I do believe DuPage County should be looking at putting something in place soon," the 47-year-old from Downers Grove said. "I think the county could be a role model for other entities, so you have to be careful what you implement so we should be slow as we look some things over."

Brennan believes the problem isn't with the rules, it's with the people who are looking to bend them or find loopholes.

"If (former Illinois Gov. Rod) Blagojevich taught us anything, it's that you can find any way around any rule," the 48-year-old from Hinsdale said. "We all have to elect better people. At each level we have to be electing guys who are more honest."

Voters will decide Feb. 2 which Republican from each district will go on to battle the Democratic candidate in the November general election.