The race to succeed DuPage County Board Chair Dan Cronin is one of the most closely watched in Illinois, with both candidates raking in large donations for the final leg of the campaign.
State Rep. Deb Conroy is trying to become the first Democrat and the first woman to take the county board gavel. Her opponent, Greg Hart, has positioned himself as a rising star in county Republican politics.
The pricey contest will be key to determining whether Democrats can expand their influence in a county that was considered reliably Republican even a decade ago.
“DuPage County has been shifting Democrat for a long time, but it’s still pretty purple,” said Melissa Mouritsen, a political science professor at the College of DuPage.
* With that in mind, here’s a press release…
Greg Hart, candidate for DuPage County Board Chairman, today hit the airwaves with a broadcast buy and a brand new campaign ad.
The ad points to Deb Conroy’s “secret agenda” of raising our taxes, including doubling the gas tax. It also ties Conroy and her tax-raising votes to Mike Madigan.
Illinoisans know Madigan as the corrupt former House Speaker who was indicted for schemes that padded his own pockets and that of his associates. Hart’s ad ties Conroy with Madigan saying she conspired with him to raise income taxes four times, as well as raising her own pay.
“DuPage deserves better than a tax-and-spend Springfield politician,” said Hart. “On the ballot for County Board Chairman, there’s an extreme choice in Deb Conroy, or there’s a candidate who has already consistently worked with other board members to lower taxes and keep government ethics above board. I think the voters will go with the moderate, common-sense choice who will protect their tax dollars at the end of the day.”
Deb Conroy has a secret agenda.
Raising your taxes.
Conroy voted to double the gas tax, tying it to inflation.
You pay more as prices go up.
Deb Conroy partnered with corrupt Mike Madigan to raise income taxes four times, and raise her own pay.
And just like the Springfield politician she is, Deb Conroy wants to increase DuPage taxes.
Greg Hart - a true independent, a socially moderate outsider.
Hart won’t raise taxes on DuPage families.
* For context, Rep. Conroy issued this press release the day that Madigan was indicted in the AT&T probe…
Mike Madigan’s Leadership Betrayed Our Trust
VILLA PARK, Ill – Representative Deb Conroy, D-Elmhurst, “Mike Madigan’s leadership betrayed our trust and cost Illinois taxpayers millions of dollars,” Conroy said. “This indictment shows once again how Madigan’s entrenched power undermined our government.”
“I am proud that I stood firm with 18 of my Democratic colleagues in demanding Mike Madigan’s resignation as Speaker and calling for new, transparent, honest leadership in Springfield. Our courage and determination brought an end to a painful era in our state history.”
“Together, we are committed to building a state government that will work for everyone in Illinois – not just the chosen and well-connected few. With Madigan’s reign over at last, we are bringing Illinois toward a brighter, more prosperous future.”
Secretly raising taxes! How does that happen Greg?
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 9:52 am:
Thinking this is an Ad that is going to have an effect on the election.
Grade - B+
I do think that the State Representative’s position to replace Speaker Madigan should also be important to voters.
You mean the same Greg Hart who puts out an add attacking his opponent for “doubling the gas tax” when he himself voted to double DuPage County’s gas tax?
Been a DuPage County resident for 40+ years. Was as Republican as Chicago was Democrat. Think the GOP got sloppy, and did nothing to attract new voters (who else are going vote for?). If Conroy wins, it will be the first Democrat to be County Board Chair since…………
What’s funny is up here in Lake, the Democrats took the majority for the first time and held property taxes flat and implemented efficiency measures that actually reduced costs in some areas. It’s almost like the spendthrift Dem myth is…wrong.
- AcademicUnionStateEmployee - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:37 am:
==Think the GOP got sloppy, and did nothing to attract new voters (who else are going vote for?).==
Rauner, Trump, and long before those Dubya, Ryan and fellow DuPager Scott Fawell didn’t help the DuPage GOP get out the vote efforts much either.
Looks like a complete swing miss by Hart, GOPies and DuPage elite as they slide into an abyss. Long time coming. We remember the disaster they served up when the biz guys gave that consolidated child support system…Hart would be better to ditch BumpkinBailey as a last minute gambit
- J-sather@sbcglobal.net - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:56 am:
Oswego Willy I think there was another guy from DuPage that had some clout. Pate, remember him?
For that I apologize to forgetting a larger than life figure in DuPage.
Never make lists, you always forget someone.
:)
- Lost in DuPage - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 11:11 am:
Greg Hart was a cheerleader for FEJA when he was working for Nybo and Kevin Fitzpatrick back in the day. Having a secret agenda with Madigan seems to be a common theme in DuPage. Nybo, Sheahan, Hart… all seemed to fully support Madigan’s Smart Grid, FEJA and CEJA plans.
- The Velvet Frog - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
I see “doubling the gas tax” pushed a lot. Wasn’t that a bill with bipartisan support (Rebuild Illinois)?
Madigan, Madigan, Madigan. Again-a-gan!! It has not worked in the last 10years against Conroy, why would it work now after she stood as one of the 19 against Madigan?
- Kelly - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 9:43 am:
Can you trust anything Greg Hart says? It seems like he’s flip flopping and still making up his mind on whether he’s pro-choice or anti-choice.
https://patch.com/illinois/hinsdale/hinsdales-greg-hart-pro-choice
“The Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League alleges that Greg Hart of Hinsdale shifted from pro-life to pro-choice in his latest campaign.”
- Jerry - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 9:47 am:
Secretly raising taxes! How does that happen Greg?
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 9:52 am:
Thinking this is an Ad that is going to have an effect on the election.
Grade - B+
I do think that the State Representative’s position to replace Speaker Madigan should also be important to voters.
- Protocol Droid - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 9:55 am:
“Can you trust anything Greg Hart says?”
You mean the same Greg Hart who puts out an add attacking his opponent for “doubling the gas tax” when he himself voted to double DuPage County’s gas tax?
- TNR - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 9:59 am:
Given the sustainability of “Blame Madigan,” doesn’t seems pretty close to impossible for him to get a fair jury trial in Illinois?
- AcademicUnionStateEmployee - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:24 am:
Could Greg be somehow related to Janice Hart?
- Rabid - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:28 am:
What socially moderate wouldn’t scare voters their way ?
- Bogey Golfer - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:30 am:
Been a DuPage County resident for 40+ years. Was as Republican as Chicago was Democrat. Think the GOP got sloppy, and did nothing to attract new voters (who else are going vote for?). If Conroy wins, it will be the first Democrat to be County Board Chair since…………
- Lulu in Lake - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:31 am:
What’s funny is up here in Lake, the Democrats took the majority for the first time and held property taxes flat and implemented efficiency measures that actually reduced costs in some areas. It’s almost like the spendthrift Dem myth is…wrong.
- AcademicUnionStateEmployee - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:37 am:
==Think the GOP got sloppy, and did nothing to attract new voters (who else are going vote for?).==
Rauner, Trump, and long before those Dubya, Ryan and fellow DuPager Scott Fawell didn’t help the DuPage GOP get out the vote efforts much either.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:44 am:
===Ryan and fellow DuPager Scott Fawell didn’t help the DuPage GOP get out the vote efforts much either.===
Really? Example?
I think to Bob Biggins, Dan Cronin, Lee Daniels, Henry Hyde, Jim Ryan, the DuPage machine well before W was the standard.
The joke “Nothing happens in Illinois until DuPage has its say” was part and parcel to the strong GOP into the 2000
Cite your evidence.
Thanks.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:52 am:
Looks like a complete swing miss by Hart, GOPies and DuPage elite as they slide into an abyss. Long time coming. We remember the disaster they served up when the biz guys gave that consolidated child support system…Hart would be better to ditch BumpkinBailey as a last minute gambit
- J-sather@sbcglobal.net - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:56 am:
Oswego Willy I think there was another guy from DuPage that had some clout. Pate, remember him?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 10:57 am:
===Pate===
Lil bit. Just a lil bit.
For that I apologize to forgetting a larger than life figure in DuPage.
Never make lists, you always forget someone.
:)
- Lost in DuPage - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 11:11 am:
Greg Hart was a cheerleader for FEJA when he was working for Nybo and Kevin Fitzpatrick back in the day. Having a secret agenda with Madigan seems to be a common theme in DuPage. Nybo, Sheahan, Hart… all seemed to fully support Madigan’s Smart Grid, FEJA and CEJA plans.
- The Velvet Frog - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
I see “doubling the gas tax” pushed a lot. Wasn’t that a bill with bipartisan support (Rebuild Illinois)?
- low level - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 2:21 pm:
Meh. Hart could have found a way to mention the Madigan name at least 5-6 more times./s. Just like Mazzochi did last week.
- Not a Superstar - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 2:47 pm:
“Greg Hart. He says he’s socially moderate. And if you don’t believe him, his wife will text you incessantly to defend him.”
- Game - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 3:15 pm:
Madigan, Madigan, Madigan. Again-a-gan!! It has not worked in the last 10years against Conroy, why would it work now after she stood as one of the 19 against Madigan?
- IT Guy - Tuesday, Oct 25, 22 @ 6:27 pm:
As an independent DuPage voter I’m not moved to vote for Hart by this ad.