Lots of interest in County Board chairmanship

Bob Schillerstrom is checking out the possibility of seeking a higher office, and it looks like there are plenty of folks waiting in the wings, hoping to replace the outgoing chairman of the DuPage County Board.

"From what I'm hearing, there's very few people that aren't," Schillerstrom said Wednesday.

While he still described his gubernatorial aspirations as exploratory, his marketing guy was a bit more committal about the run.

"I can confirm that the chairman is actively and enthusiastically moving forward with his campaign for governor and is not looking to seek re-election as chairman," campaign spokesman Brad Hahn said earlier this week.

The field for the board's top spot is growing crowded, with several current county representatives and at least one statewide elected official confirming they're likely to toss their hats into the ring. The primary will take place next February, but nominating petitions will be circulated in August.

State Sen. Carol Pankau, a Bloomingdale Republican and minority caucus whip, said her candidacy has had some "ifs" attached to it: she decided she would run in the event that neither Schillerstrom nor fellow Illinois Sen. Dan Cronin is interested in the race.

Pankau said Cronin told her about a year ago that he was thinking about going for the chairmanship, but he has recently mentioned he's having "second thoughts" and might want to devote his energies to education in Springfield instead. Attempts to reach Cronin were not successful.

According to Pankau, the county is entering a new era and she feels especially well suited to lead.

"I think the building days of DuPage are probably well behind it. I think DuPage County needs to be refined now," she said.

The 2006 state comptroller candidate said fiscal responsibility is a priority. She'd like to see education and quality of life equaled by accountability on the part of those who spend the county's public money. She said that as chairman, she would work to make sure the taxpayers know every last penny is being spent wisely.

"The way you do that is to look at every program and see how efficient it is," Pankau said.

District 2 County Board member Brien Sheahan has money matters on his mind too, as he "actively" explores a potential run for the chairmanship.

"I have been one of the leading voices on the County Board for better fiscal management, lower taxes and greater transparency," the second-term Elmhurst Republican said.

Paul Fichtner also thinks he'd bring some sound money sense to the job. The second-term District 1 County Board member said his nine years on the Elmhurst City Council helped prepare him for the county helm.

"I do have an interest in it. I think I would bring some strong attributes to the position, including some strong financial background, as well as some municipal experience," Fichtner said.

Debra Olson also feels well-prepared for the job. With Schillerstrom out of the running, the District 4 representative from Wheaton said she's "looking very seriously" at trying to replace him.

"I think I bring a fresh perspective to looking at county government, yet I'm in my third term, so I have the background of being closely involved in county government, to really know it and understand it thoroughly, but I've also had an independent voice on the County Board," Olson said. "I would bring a strong desire to work more collaboratively with our municipalities and our legislators, as well as representing the people that live in the unincorporated areas."

For JR McBride, a prospective run for the County Board's top spot will hinge on whether those who step into the ring ahead of him have views much different from his own. If that ends up being the case, he's in.

"It's something that I really wasn't thinking about, but the reason I ran for the board is because I just love the people and I love the area I live in," the District 4 representative from Glen Ellyn said. "I've been on the County Board for three years, and I know its strengths and I know its weaknesses."

District 6 representative Jim Zay thinks his decade as a board member has equipped him to preside as well, if it feels like a sufficiently good fit.

The Carol Stream resident is weighing a run, taking into consideration his two young kids and noting that "family comes first." He thinks his familiarity with the workings of the board would enable him to guide the membership in new directions on the things where it doesn't currently excel, and stay the course in those areas where it is proficient.

"I've had some people talk to me about (running). I know it's very early, and there are a lot of people looking at it," Zay said.

District 2 County Board member Patrick O'Shea also has been named as a possible board chairman hopeful, but attempts to contact him for confirmation were not successful.

Schillerstrom expressed no particular surprise over the high level of interest in his position, observing, "It's a great job."

He said he has especially relished the wide variety of issues he has worked on and the people with whom he has crossed paths since assuming the chairmanship 11 years ago.

"It's essentially like running a small state," he said. "DuPage County is larger than six states."

Job descriptions and candidate pools aside, the power of the chairman does have its limits. For that reason, Sheahan noted, the individual chosen for the post needs to be adept at building consensus.

"I think it may be notable that any County Board chairman needs 10 votes to operate," he said. "The County Board chairman position actually, statutorily, is kind of weak."