Cronin earns third term as DuPage County chairman

Dan Cronin secured a third term as DuPage County Board chairman by narrowly defeating Democratic challenger Lynn LaPlante.

With 901 of 930 precincts reporting, unofficial totals showed Cronin with 173,426 votes while LaPlante had 163,169.

Cronin, a former state Senator from Elmhurst, ran unopposed during the Republican primary. LaPlante was unchallenged in the Democratic primary.

During the campaign, Cronin and LaPlante both addressed one of the biggest issues county government will face over the next four years: how long it can go without increasing property taxes.

The county's property tax levy has remained virtually flat over the past decade. But county officials admit it's going to be difficult to balance future budgets for fiscal 2020 and beyond.

Before considering a property tax hike, Cronin said he first wants to explore "other opportunities on the cost side of the balance sheet."

DuPage is expected to save hundreds of thousands of dollars next year when the election commission merges with the county clerk's office. Now officials are talking about the possibility of eliminating the county recorder's office as part of an ongoing effort to consolidate and streamline local government.

Cronin said work to downsize county government must continue because of state funding cuts.