Pankau...Endorsed for County Board Chairman

January, 24, 2010

Bob Schillerstrom's venture into the GOP Gubernatorial ring (although aborted late last week) after three terms as chairman of the DuPage County Board caught a lot of interest. Four current Republican office holders want the job - County Board Member Debra Olson of Wheaton, State. Sen. Dan Cronin of Elmhurst, Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso, and State Sen. Carole Pankau of Itasca- ad each packs notable credentials.

We believe Pankau - a former DuPage County Board member with experience in Springfield - is the party's best bet going up against unopposed Democratic challenger Carole Cheney of Aruroa in November.

As a District 4 County Board member for the past seven years, Olson has a great track record watching residents' dimes and pennies, whether as a member of the Public Works Committee or helping to cut down on the county's health costs by routing prescriptions through Access DuPage, the county's public private partnership to help low-income residents obtain health care. And she has done it the past few years, despite what Pankau has claimed, without additional committee stipends, which have been eliminated.

Regardless, we believe it takes a person of Pankau's depth of experience to be able to lead as the chief operating officer of the County Board, supervising the implementation of the boards policies and programs.

Grasso has a refreshing, down-to-earth, realistic approach to solving budget problems, as he - like many other mayors - has had to deal with the declining revenue operating revenues. But regardless of his work with Suburban Mayors and Managers, we believe he lacks the broader experience to take on the the direction of a county more populous than some states.

Based in Elmhurst, Cronin obviously is aware of what goes on in all parts of the DuPage County as a state senator. He says consolidation of some county departments can aid efficiency, and points to reducing the county's operating costs by trimming the county's work force through attrition. He also suggests hiring a county administrator, which is intriguing, but seems to fly in the face of cutting county costs. Administration is part of what we elect - and pay - a county board chairman to do.

We have no doubt that Pankau, strong and straightforward, would be able to hold her own in leading county board meetings, preparing a budget and making committee assignments, as well as the other duties of county board chair.

Knowing that DuPage County, affluent relative to many other counties, doesn't qualify for many stimulus programs, Pankau says firmly that "DuPage County needs to grow its own economy."

She suggest expanding the county's popular online Job Board to all government entities within the county to give a broader idea of the jobs throughout the area. She likes the idea of a county job fair, where 118 major companies in the county can seek the best and brightest...many of whom forced to the unemployment lines by the economy.

And, an idea to quaint and simple "Buy DuPage," where residents would be encouraged to bump their daily spending in the county by a mere $2, could bring in additional millions in sales taxes each year.

That makes a lot of sense. And we believe supporting Carole Pankau as the GOP's nominee for DuPage COunty Board chair does as well.