Naperville Sun Article from September 17, 2009

By SUSAN FRICK CARLMAN This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The field of people interested in being the next chairman of the DuPage County Board has shrunk to a manageable size.

With several current County Board members out of the running after initially considering the idea, the chairmanship hopefuls still number no fewer than five — including one Democrat and four GOP office holders.

Although things can change in the 45 days that remain before the filing deadline, the list as of today includes state Sens. Dan Cronin, R-Elmhurst, and Carol Pankau, R-Itasca; District 4 County Board member Debra Olson, R-Wheaton; Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso; and Bob Peickert, chairman of the Democratic Party of DuPage County.

"It's official," Peickert, 64, said Tuesday afternoon, adding that there may be still others from his organization interested in being on the Feb. 2 primary and Nov. 2 general election ballots in 2010.

Campaigning has been in full swing for several of Peickert's potential Republican opponents.

"It's going great," said Olson, who launched her primary bid a month ago. "I've had great reception and a lot of enthusiasm, and a lot of people wanting to help."

Olson, 45, has been turning up at community festivals and gatherings in private homes, and plans to schedule fundraisers soon.

"I'm the only candidate who is currently serving on the County Board, so that really resonates with people," she said.

Pankau, 62, has represented the 23rd District in the Illinois Senate since 2005. She spent a dozen years in the state House before that, and served on the County Board from 1984 until 1992, working on budgeting issues for most of the period.

She's been hitting the campaign trail hard as well.

"I am super enthused," Pankau said. "I am picking up more and more support every day."

Change is the rallying cry among the people she has met while walking the precincts.

"People are telling me, 'You guys can't do the same old thing and expect to survive. You have to be accountable for every tax dollar of mine that you spend,'" she said. "Corporations set goals and they measure their results to see how effective they are. Schools test to see their results. Government just says, 'Oh yes, we're spending your money wisely.' (Voters) are not buying it anymore."

The campaign schedule is already keeping Cronin busy, too. The five-term 21st District state senator kicked off his primary campaign July 22, the first to officially declare.

Campaign manager Leland Lewis said about 500 people were on hand for the launch in the Harry Caray Ballroom in the Westin Hotel in Lombard.

"I've been involved in politics for over 20 years, and I've never seen for just an announcement a turnout as large as that," Lewis said.

He and Cronin, 49, have been crisscrossing the county, dropping by township meetings and precinct committee gatherings and train stations to talk to people.

"We've done that all the way from the western end of Naperville to Elmhurst and everything in between, and we've gotten a very good response," Lewis said.

Grasso's campaign is well under way, too — assisted by a committee that includes a loyal blood component.

"I have six children, so I have my own little army," said Grasso, 58, father of five boys and a girl, ages 15-28.

The DuPage County Board of Health member and former Burr Ridge trustee, who began his second mayoral term this year, also has been at township committee meetings and other recent public events, getting the word out.

"I think it's important that we continue to keep DuPage County a special place and keep it running within the finances that it has been and will continue to be in, in this tight economic environment," he said. "We have to keep our eye on our own core government. We can't be everything to everybody."