Chairman Lawlor Proposes Sweeping Reforms to County Government
Calls on Senator Terry Link to
Amend Senate Bill 0669
January 31, 2017
Waukegan – Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor is proposing
a package of groundbreaking reforms to county government that would give voters
the opportunity to decide on the leadership structure and management of their
county government.
Illinois Senator Terry Link (Dist. 30) filed legislation last
week that requires the county board chairman be elected countywide, starting in
2020. Currently, the Lake County Board Chairman is selected by county board
members every two years. Lawlor is urging Senator Link to join him in proposing
amendments to Senate Bill 0669 that would allow voters to decide.
“Voters should be able to say what they want, rather than
Springfield dictating what they need,” Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor
said. “SB0669 is an important step
forward, but doesn’t go far enough in enacting meaningful good government reforms and safeguards
that protect professionalism over political patronage.”
Lawlor will urge Senator Link to amend SB0669 calling for a
voter referendum in 2018 asking voters if they would support these measures:
- A countywide elected chairman;
- Streamlining county government by reducing the size of the county
board by at least four;
- Implementing redistricting reform based on the “Independent Map
Amendment;”
Lawlor also explained his proposal has the opportunity to create
an annual savings of at least $250,000 annually by implementing a countywide
elected chairmanship along with reducing the size of the county board.
If voters approve the measures in 2018, redistricting reform
would begin with the release of the 2020 census data. New county board boundaries
would be set for the 2022 election when voters would decide the new county
board chairman and elect all members of the county board.
Lawlor said, “For years, politicians have gerrymandered district
lines for political gain, and Springfield powerbrokers have blocked voters from
weighing in on the Independent Map Amendment. Speaker Madigan can keep
redistricting reform off ballots statewide, but not in Lake County. We are ready to serve as a model for the
reforms that can help fix our broken State.”
Lawlor will appear before the County Board’s Finance Committee
at 1 p.m. on Wednesday to file a request for board support. The full board
could vote on the measure at the Feb. 14 meeting.
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Contact
Jennie Vana Lake County Communications Manager Email: jvana@lakecountyil.gov Phone Number: 847-377-2154
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