DuPage board makes changes to chairman's powers

The DuPage County Board yanked authority Tuesday from its next board chairman by seizing control of appointment, hiring and other powers.

Yet one of the candidates for chairman said she agreed with the power grab; the other seemed more annoyed than angry.

The new rules do not allow the incoming chairman to hire or appoint without authorization from the county board. The changes also impact how county legislative districts are drawn.

Chairman Bob Schillerstrom did not seek re-election. On Nov. 2, voters will choose between state Sen. Dan Cronin, a Republican, or Democrat Carole Cheney.

Tuesday's swift board action comes one week after Cronin spoke out against a $70 million capital improvement borrowing plan that will cost taxpayers $125 million during a 30-year span. Members also suspect Cronin was behind recent Americans for Prosperity robocalls urging voters to contact the board in opposition of the borrowing plan.

Cronin denied being the instigator, but said he certainly supports the group's message. He called the rules change "gamesmanship," but didn't appear worried.

"If this is what the county board members want to do, engage in procedural things such as picking committee chairmans and ensure their own self-protection, I'm fine with it," Cronin said. "If they're trying to send me a message, message received. This is not important.

"I didn't run so that I have the chance to pick committee assignments. I want to fight for taxpayers, demonstrated enlightened government and show how we can do things with fiscal restraint."

Cheney supported the rule changes, which she described as "a vote for accountability and responsible governance."

"By putting an end to the consolidation of power in the hands of the chairman position, the residents of DuPage gain both the separation of powers and checks and balances they are entitled to in a democracy," she said.

The tweaked rules are not expected to impact the chairman's appointment process to replace State's Attorney Joe Birkett should he leave office midterm, as speculated, for a judicial post. That process, governed by state election code, calls for the chairman to make a recommendation to the board. If the chairman fails to get a majority of board support, the chief judge can make an appointment until the issue is resolved.

Only four board members opposed the rules change, largely because the measure was pushed through to a full vote without much time for discussion. Those members who voted 'no' Tuesday were Dirk Enger, D-Winfield; Rita Gonzalez, D-Addison; Michael McMahon, R-Hinsdale; and Donald Puchalski, R-Addison.

Birkett said he received some calls from board members concerned whether they were violating the state's open meetings law.

"We'll look at it," Birkett said. "I don't think there's any violation for the rule, but the spirit of the law and transparency, which they've all run on, was certainly compromised."

Everyone seems to agree that Cronin ruffled some feathers, but county board members insist the rules changes have been in the works for some time since Schillerstrom as a longtime chairman had a lot of power.

"It wasn't about Cronin when we talked about these rules," said Patrick O'Shea, a Lombard Republican who as the board's vice chairman pushed for support of the changes. "No one was out to get anyone."

Several board members expressed concerns about their role in future legislative map configuring that will follow the results of the 2010 census. The county's legislative map is divided into six districts, with three members per district. There has been talk of creating nine districts, with two members coming from each district. Any significant changes to the legislative map could force current board members out of office or to run against one another. The new rules should prevent that. Another change allows the county board to determine its own committee assignments. The board balked at Schillerstrom's appointments last year and wound up deciding for themselves.

"There's been a scaling back (of chairman powers) the last four years," said county board member Grant Eckhoff, a Wheaton Republican. "It's not like it's happening because of Dan (Cronin). You've got to expect, as board members become more senior, they want to assert themselves more. This is just one of the ways to do it."