Liz Chaplin

As more people are seeking a sustainable lifestyle some local governments are seeking ways to accommodate the people they represent.

Good job Lisle.

Village of Lisle Backyard Chicken Survey

I would have to say that Jean Kaczmarek is the gem of DuPage County. As a citizen watch dog for over a decade Jean has uncovered numerous anomalies at the DuPage Election Commission. Please take a few minutes to listen to her latest statement.

On May 12, Sean Allen and I will be on the dancefloor to raise awareness and funds for the DuPage Senior Citizens Council at the 7th Annual Dancing with the Starz Benefit Gala.

 The DuPage Senior Citizens Council’s mission is to support seniors in need to live their lives with dignity. They provide many services including:

During the March 27th meeting of the DuPage County Board I called for the termination of the contract with Liberty Systems. Liberty Systems is the vendor who provided the faulty ender cards that caused the debacle on election night. I also said that the county should seek reimbursement for damages. During yesterday’s meeting of the DuPage County Board Chairman Cronin announced that the DuPage Election Commission will terminate all contracts with Liberty Systems and the county will be reimbursed for damages. Below is a video of my comments.

Comments here.

The Daily Herald Reports the following here.

When voting  please make sure your ballot is initialed by the election judge. If your ballot is not initialed your vote does not count. Please make sure you get a receipt. If you notice political signs or electioneering within 100 ft from the door of your polling place make sure you report it.

If you experience any problems at the polls please call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

After the  discovery in 2001 that our well water was contaminated with Trichloroethylene  (TCE) the EPA sent letters to 800 home owners in unincorporated Lisle Township telling us to immediately stop using our water. We could not drink or cook with our water. We could not bathe in our water. We were instructed to shower with a window open or exhaust fan on so we would breath in the toxic chemical. For two and a half years we lived in a home that had no value. We worried about the health of our children, our friends and neighbors. We attended meetings of all local government bodies, traveled to Springfield and worked with the U.S. EPA to find a safe water supply. .

The EPA has classified TCE “likely to be carcinogenic in humans by all routes of exposure.”

In December of 2016 the EPA published a proposed rule that would ban the use of TCE under the Toxic Substance Control Act based on health risks from its commercial and consumer use as a degreaser and spot cleaner in the dry cleaning process. According to the EPA the use of TCE in this manner causes an “unreasonable risk to human health.” In December of 2017 the EPA suggested that it would overturn or delay the ban on toxic chemicals including TCE.

As soon as I learned of the plan to overturn the toxic chemical ban I contacted my colleague Sam Tornatore who serves as Chairman of the Legislative Committee. I explained in an email our experience and that of our neighbors with the toxic chemical TCE. I asked that DuPage County take a position and support of the ban of TCE and other toxic chemicals.

I am pleased that the 2018 DuPage County Federal Legislative Priorities includes Environmental Health and Water Quality Issues both of which were based on my recommendations. DuPage County urges the U.S. EPA to reconsider the delay in the implementation of the ban of TCE to protect the health and safety of our residents.

The 2018 DuPage County Federal Legislative Priorities passed unanimously out of committee on February 27, 2018.  The 2018 DuPage County Federal Legislative Priorities will come before the DuPage County Board on March 13, 2018 for the final and binding vote.

You can find the 2018 DuPage County Federal Legislative Priorities here.

You can find more on TCE here. 

You can learn more about the roll back on toxic chemicals here. 

There are fundamental differences of my beliefs and that of my Republican colleagues on the DuPage County Board. However, I am always willing to work with my colleagues on common sense measures that will benefit the community. I also never shy away from asking questions, challenging practices and voting against measures that maybe problematic or go against my beliefs.

The Daily Herald’s Robert Sanchez Reports the following:

Study: DuPage County Board members largely agree with Cronin

Even Elizabeth Chaplin — the board’s only Democrat — says she tries to work with Republican colleagues most of the time.

According to the study, Chaplin agreed with the vice chairman on only 29 percent of the divided roll call votes between December 2016 and November 2017.

Chaplin said many of her dissenting votes were related to pay increases for elected officials, lobbying contracts and the budget. She said she also opposed hiring vendors who have made numerous campaign contributions to county board members.

You can read the full story here.

Tim Elliott, my colleague on the DuPage County Board, made a very passionate and eloquent statement regarding gun violence during a recent meeting of DuPage County Legislative Committee. Tim made a recommendation that the county support a measure that would ban bump stocks that allow guns to fire more rapidly. I fully support Tim’s recommendation.

Last week I sent an email to  members of the DuPage County Health Department, Sheriff’s Office and the Chairmen of the Health and Human Service, Judicial Public Safety and Legislative committees to gather support in finding solutions that protects the 2nd amendment but will also keep our children safe by supporting common sense gun control laws.

The legislation I recommended includes SB1657 Gun Dealer Licensing (GDL) sponsored by Don Harmon. SB1657 provides that it is unlawful for a person to engage in the business of selling, leasing, or otherwise transferring firearms without a license issued by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that a dealership agent other than a dealer licensee-in-charge may act on behalf of the licensed dealership without being licensed as a dealer under the Act.

Another important piece of legislation is SB559 The Lethal Violence Order of Protection (LVOP). SB559 will allow family members of people exhibiting symptoms of severe mental health crises, like the school shooter in Parkland did, to petition the courts to remove their firearms on a temporary basis.

Gun violence has become a public health crisis. I want the senseless killing of our children come to an end.  Since our federal government is failing us, it is up to us at the local level to act.

I am proud of my colleague Tim Elliott for making a bold statement on the issue of gun violence.  I look forward to working with Tim and rally support for these common sense gun reform laws that are long past due.

The Daily Herald reports the following:

DuPage could take position on gun control proposals

Some county board members are calling on DuPage to weigh in on the gun control debate by supporting or opposing several proposals in Springfield, including a ban on bump stocks.

County board member Tim Elliott says a number of state laws are being proposed after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people.

“As a county, it would be easy for us to say, ‘That’s Springfield’s deal. Let’s let them pass whatever legislation they’re going to pass,'” Elliott told members of the county board’s legislative and government affairs committee on Tuesday. “But I don’t think that position would be consistent with our core values.”

You can read the story here.

You can find the full text of SB1657 here.

You can find the full text of SB559 here. 

Included in the 2018 Highway Construction Program is the Meyers Road Drainage Project.  This is good news for the residents that live on Meyers Road. After attending a Congress Knolls Community meeting a few years ago, two men approached me to discuss their concerns with the flooding on Meyers Road.  Working with the residents and DuPage County staff, a plan to alleviate flooding on Meyers Road between 16th and 18th street was developed and construction will begin this Spring.

I would like to thank the residents for their patience and the staff for their hard work in coming up with a solution for the flooding.

You can view the 2018 Highway and Trail Construction Plan here.

Congratulations to all the excellent candidates that have been endorsed by the Daily Herald.

As the Daily Herald points out the biggest surprise in a local election is the three-way race for DuPage County Board, District 2 where Chaplin finds herself in a contested primary.

I support Arlene Kendorski because she has been attending county board meetings for over a year and  has been committed to learn about the job she is seeking. We need Arlene because she will ready on day one. I am thrilled the Daily Herald agrees.

From the Daily Herald:

Chaplin is an easy choice. A board member since 2012, she’s willing to ask questions and challenge the status quo about everything from members’ pay to lobbying costs to concerns about how to best approach consolidation. She’s also been a mentor to many of the other Democrats seeking board seats.

The edge goes to Kendorski because she has attended board meetings for more than a year and is best equipped to hit the ground running.

You can read the compete endorsement here.