The Kane County Board has called a special meeting to consider a resolution censuring County Board Chairwoman Corinne Pierog over what has been described publicly as “Actions Involving a Confidential Matter.”
We don't know all the details yet, and because of that, people should be careful about jumping to conclusions. But there is a bigger issue here that matters regardless of what ultimately comes out of this meeting:
accountability matters in government, especially at the top.
The County Board Chair is one of the most important elected positions in Kane County. The Chair helps set the direction of county government, works with department heads and elected officials, and has significant influence over how county business is conducted.
With that authority comes responsibility.
We expect county employees to follow policies. We expect department heads to follow procedures. We expect elected officials to follow the law and conduct themselves professionally. The person sitting in the Chair's office should be held to the same standard.
That doesn't mean Chairwoman Pierog should be considered guilty simply because a censure resolution has been introduced. She deserves the opportunity to respond, and County Board members should have facts supporting their decision before taking such a serious public action.
But the Board also cannot ignore a legitimate problem simply because it involves the County Board Chair.
If something happened, the public deserves to understand what happened, what rule or responsibility was violated, and why the Board believes a censure is necessary. If confidentiality laws prevent certain information from being released, the Board should explain as much as it legally can.
This should not be about Republicans versus Democrats. It should not be about personalities or political disagreements.
It should be about whether the people running Kane County government are being held to the standards we expect from everyone else.
The taxpayers of Kane County deserve a government where accountability works both ways—from the newest employee all the way to the County Board Chair.
No elected official should be above accountability.
At the same time, no elected official should be publicly condemned without facts and a fair process.
That's not partisan politics. That's simply good government.
