DuPage County Report
Update, Dec. 10, 2025 / DuPage County Again Victorious in Dispute with County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek.
Wheaton – In court today (Dec. 10, 2025), Judge Bryan Chapman once again sided with DuPage County in its dispute against County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek. On Aug. 25, 2025, Judge Chapman previously ruled in favor of the County that the Clerk must comply with the County’s financial policies and procedures.
Today, Judge Chapman denied the Clerk’s Motion for Summary Judgment in which the Clerk sought a determination that “the Clerk has the sole discretion to determine whether a purchase is competitively bid…” The County’s Cross Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Clerk’s Third-Party Complaint was also granted. These rulings conclude all matters in favor of the County.
“We are thrilled that Judge Bryan Chapman has affirmed DuPage County’s position that Clerk Jean Kaczmarek must follow the same finance and budgeting procedures that apply to every County office,” said Chair Deborah Conroy. “From the beginning, our goal has been to ensure all elected officials follow the law and adhere to the highest standards of government accounting, ensuring public funds are managed in a professional and transparent manner.”
Chair Deborah Conroy continued, “This ruling is a win for fiscal responsibility and transparency, and we are hopeful the Clerk will follow the Judge’s Orders moving forward. I would like to thank State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Lisa Smith, Civil Bureau Chief and Barbara Reynolds, Deputy Civil Bureau Chief for their many months of diligence and dedication to this case.”
In May 2024, Chair Conroy successfully lobbied the Illinois legislature to clarify state procurement laws that required elected officials to bid most contracts for goods and services over $30,000.
Original Post, Nov. 26, 2025 / The DuPage County Board on Tuesday, Nov. 25, voted to censure DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek.
Board members brought the resolution forward after Kaczmarek repeatedly refused to comply with the County Board’s established system of accounting and obstructed lawful financial oversight.
“Good governance is not optional. It is the foundation of public trust,” said County Board Chair Deborah Conroy. “Every elected official has a responsibility to follow the law and manage their office responsibly. We are tasked to work together to solve problems, not create them. When an elected official will not do those things, it undermines the confidence our residents have in our institution. The Board took a necessary step today to protect the integrity of DuPage County.”
County Board Member Cindy Cronin Cahill, who sponsored the resolution, said the Board did not come to this decision lightly.
“We brought this censure forward because Jean Kaczmarek’s ongoing refusal to follow basic financial rules and cooperate with oversight has put taxpayer dollars at risk,” Cronin Cahill said. “The County Board has a responsibility on behalf of the taxpayers to stand up and call out this unacceptable behavior.”
The resolution outlined several of the County Board’s complaints against the Clerk, including:
- Clerk Kaczmarek has failed to adhere to County accounting principles.
- Many purchases made by the Clerk lack essential financial documentation, including contracts or invoices.
- This has resulted in vendors being delayed in payment.
- Because Clerk Kaczmarek does not adhere to County accounting principles, the County filed suit against the Clerk. This lawsuit has resulted in nearly $200,000 in legal fees.
- Over the last five years, the Clerk has raised salaries in her office by more than 40 percent.
- Kaczmarek has consistently declined to meet with County Finance staff to discuss her office’s finances.
- The Clerk’s Office has a significant shortfall in the FY2025 budget and refuses to perform budget transfers to ensure vendors can be paid.
The Board voted 15-1 to approve the censure. Board member Dawn DeSart voted against the resolution and member Michael Childress abstained from the vote. Member Melissa Martinez was absent.
To read the full resolution, visit the County’s website.
Reports submitted by Evan Shields, Communications and Programs Manager, for the DuPage County Board.
