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COUNTY BOARD ENACTS ETHICS REFORM
REDICK LEADS EFFORT FOR COMMON-SENSE REFORM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
For more information contact: 630-607-9681
WHEATON-The DuPage County Board approved a sweeping ethics reform ordinance at its meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. The ordinance is being touted as the benchmark for comprehensive ethics reform in Illinois.
“These changes to our ethics policy will ensure that DuPage County government remains open and transparent,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom. “People must have trust in their government, and DuPage County will never take that trust for granted.”
The new ordinance puts strict campaign donation limits on county board members and provides stricter gift ban limits on employees and elected officials. Further, the approved ordinance enhances the scope and authority of the DuPage County Ethics Commission to investigate and pursue ordinance violations by eliminating the statute of limitations on ethics violations and affording strict “whistle blower” protections for employees.
Approval of the county’s ethics reform ordinance was spear-headed by County Board Member Jeff Redick (District 2—Elmhurst). Redick has been an advocate for ethics reform and transparency in county government.
“This comprehensive and far-reaching ethics ordinance is the result of diligent, and thoughtful, debate and deliberation,” said Redick. “The changes approved by the DuPage County Board today represent very meaningful common-sense ethical standards that clearly show DuPage County is the leader on ethics reform in Illinois.”
The ordinance was born out of the work of the county’s Transparency and Government Accessibility Ad-Hoc Committee that Redick chaired. Based on the identified need for enhanced ethics requirements, Redick worked closely with DuPage County Finance Committee Chairman Paul Fichtner (District 1—Elmhurst) to draft, vet and usher approval of the landmark ordinance. “I want to thank the Finance Committee and Committee Chairman Paul Fichtner for their work and support for these important revisions,” said Redick.
Despite the fact that the revised ethics ordinance was applauded by government watch-dog and reform groups, the proposal was opposed by Democratic Board Members. “It is sad when people want to play politics with an issue as important as ethics,” said Redick. “If government ever stands a chance of recapturing the public’s confidence, we must get past that type of political gamesmanship.”
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