Endorsements: Puchalski, Tornatore for DuPage County Board Dist. 1
Incumbent Republican Donald Puchalski faces Democrat Roland Waller for a four-year term while Republican incumbent Sam Tornatore and Democrat Richard Accomando seek the two-year seat.
Waller charges Puchalski is "triple-dipping" because he also serves as DuPage County public guardian and public administrator. However, But Puchalski's work as public guardian and public administrator, to which he was appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn, is unrelated to service on the county board and we see no conflict between the roles.
Puchalski of Addison and Waller of Bensenville share concerns over O'Hare airport noise but approach solutions differently. Puchalski serves on the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission and the county board's O'Hare committee to work with governments and residents. Waller, who holds no elected or appointed offices, has been circulating a petition among Bensenville property owners to promote his idea for the county and Chicago to study consolidating the land into an industrial park.
Waller also has met independently about potential uses for the DuPage County Fairgrounds. While we like that he seeks new solutions to county problems, we'd rather he brought his ideas forward and worked with the county board rather than circumventing it.
Tornatore, like Puchalski, is a fiscal conservative versed in the county's issues and operations. Accomando is eager and well-meaning, and would benefit from more time observing the board in action.
Puchalski and Tornatore are endorsed.
District 1 covers all or part of Addison, Lombard, Villa Park, Elmhurst, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Itasca, Roselle, Bloomingdale, Glendale Heights, Schaumburg and Elk Grove.