Watchdog Group: Motives in DuPage Board Chair Cronin’s Hirings?

Four companies with ties to important Illinois state legislators, companies that have previously done little work in DuPage County, have received over $300,000 in county work since Republican Dan Cronin became DuPage County Board chairman, the watchdog group Better Government Association (BGA) is reporting. 

In an article entitled “Cronin’s Cronies,” the BGA speculates that Cronin’s administration could be selectively contracting in order to curry favor with Democrats for his legislative agenda and his political future. 

Three of the four mentioned ties are with Democrats—a financial services company who employs House Speaker Michael Madigan’s son, and two law firms at which Senate President John Cullerton and state senator Don Harmon are respectively partners. (The fourth is a law firm that employs Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross, a Republican.)

“The timing still raises questions about Cronin’s end game,” the BGA report says. “Playing nice with Democrats, who control both chambers of the General Assembly, could help him advance his legislative agenda—and soften opposition if he someday runs for a statewide office.” 

Cronin himself vehemently denies all the allegations. "We look at the qualifications—period," he told the BGA. "It’s a merit-based selection."

All four companies also said they were hired on merit.

Read the full report at the Better Government Association website.