New DuPage County leaders ready to dig in

DuPage County voters elected 17 new leaders, but on Monday nearly 18 people were sworn into office.

Flanked by her family, District 1 board member Rita Gonzalez and her son Fidel both raised their right hands to take the oath of office. Quickly realizing his mistake, the son laughed along with the crowded auditorium as he lowered his hand and let his mother continue.

Gonzalez was one of 12 county board members who were sworn in along with five countywide officeholders by DuPage Chief Judge Stephen Culliton. She was also one of three Democrats who broke through the Republican stranglehold on the board that had existed for years.

Gonzalez said previously she would have to take personal and vacation time from her job with the Illinois secretary of state's office to attend most board meetings, but Monday she was ready to get to work.

"I'll make time," she said. "I always make time to help people."

The new political diversity of the board was a theme of Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom's brief speech.

"This year offers a new dynamic and a new opportunity," he said. "We will not use partisanship as a tool of gridlock."

District 5 board member Tony Michelassi said he is ready to begin his new career as a politician. The 23-year-old Aurora resident is another newcomer to the board who until Sunday night was a grocery store photo department clerk.

"Right now I'm just busy figuring out how everything works and who to go to for what," Michelassi said. "The county has an amazing staff who has been extremely helpful."

For now, Michelassi and the three other new board members - Republican John Curran beat incumbent Tom Bennington in District 3 - will take over committee assignments for the board members they are replacing. Schillerstrom will reshuffle the committee assignments in the coming weeks after going through the board members' requests.

District 6 board member Linda Kurzawa is one of the longest-serving members after 16 years. She advised the newcomers to focus on county business.

"Remember who brought you here," she said. "The citizens of the county. Don't worry about the next election. Just do the job you're supposed to do and the next election won't be a problem."

Leaders: Committee assignments to be made over time