DuPage County voters need full disclosure from elected officials and candidates

January 12, 2010 (Lombard, IL) – Current disclosure reports do not sufficiently inform voters about either the source of campaign contributions or personal businesses receiving county business, according to State Senator Dan Cronin (R-21), a Republican candidate for DuPage County Board Chairman. Cronin today calls for a new county initiative that would improve reporting requirements by DuPage County elected officials and candidates for office. The proposal would supplement the county’s existing Ethics Ordinance and would require:

1. Elected officials and candidates to list both the name of the company and profession of all contributors;
2. County officials who claim that their personal company has received county business to disclose the amount of the contract, the nature of the work and the time period;
3. Businesses who receive county contracts in excess of $25,000 to file an annual report with DuPage County detailing any campaign contributions made to county officials.

“The reports do not tell the full story to voters,” Cronin said. “Reports may contain the name and even company address of a contributor, yet it’s not required to also list the name of the company,” Cronin said. “If an individual is employed, particularly by a company that holds a contract with county government, it’s absolutely vital that information is contained on the campaign reports.” Federal election reports require such information for individual contributors, but Illinois law is vague on this issue. All elected officials and candidates are required to file contribution reports, known as D2s, with the State Board of Elections on a regular basis. The new requirements could be mandated and regulated by the DuPage County Board’s Ethics Committee.

Furthermore, Cronin believes that the Statement of Economic Interest should furnish more detailed information than is presently required. Officials and candidates file annually with the DuPage County Clerk to list “the name…of any entity doing business with a unit of local government in relation to which the person is required to file.” Yet the statement does not inquire as to the amount of the contract or the type of work conducted with the county.

Debra Olson, a County Board Member from District 4 and candidate for DuPage County Board Chairman, stated in October 2009 that the company of which she is president and secretary has received county business. This is the first time in eight years Olson has indicated that her company, Olson and Sons, has been the beneficiary of county business.

“If a sitting County Board member or elected official has a personal business that is profiting from a county government contract, we need as much information as possible,” Cronin stated. “Rather than being transparent, this form is opaque and often raises more questions than it answers.”

As chairman, Cronin would also require companies that receive at least $25,000 in county business to file a campaign report on an annual basis. The report would list the recipients of any monetary or in-kind donations made to county officials as well as the amount and date of all contributions.

“Just talking about ethics and transparency is not enough,” Cronin said. “We need to lead by example and show DuPage County residents that their elected officials are providing as much detailed information about campaign donations and personal business interests as possible.”