Longest-serving DuPage County Board member won't seek re-election

The longest-serving member of the DuPage County Board says he won't seek re-election next year.

Jim Healy announced his decision near the end of Tuesday morning's county board meeting. The Naperville Republican has served on the board since 1998.

"Four years ago, I said this was my last term," he said, "and I am a man of my word."

Healy, an attorney, is a former Des Plaines alderman who moved to DuPage more than 25 years ago. Since becoming a county board member, Healy said, it has been an honor to serve the residents of District 5, which covers all or parts of Aurora, Naperville, Lisle, Warrenville and Woodridge.

He thanked a long list of current and former board members, elected officials and county staff.

"Because of all these great employees and elected officials, I have been able to work on some great projects," Healy said.

Those projects include the construction of the DuPage County Family Center, designing and building the Southern DuPage Regional Trail, turning the county complex in Wheaton into an "arboretum," and "new and expanded roadways, bridges and trails."

"I am confident these projects have improved the quality of life for the people of DuPage County," he said.

He also said being a county board member has given him the opportunity to be involved at the national level with National Association of Counties and at the state level with the Illinois State Association of Counties.

With 15 months remaining on his term, Healy said, "I will do my job until the very last day."

His final day as a county board member will be Nov. 30, 2020.

"So now it's time for this dinosaur to voluntarily walk into the tar pits," Healy said, "and I do so without hesitation and without regrets."