Lake County Board Elects New Leaders, Amends P-Card Policy

WAUKEGAN, IL — The Lake County Board elected new leadership last week before adopting new policies for county-issued credit cards, also known as "p-cards," at its last meeting of the year Tuesday. It was the first regular meeting since the November election gave Democrats a majority on the board for the first time in its history.

Sandy Hart, D-Lake Bluff, was elected board chair and Mary Ross Cunningham, D-Waukegan, was elected vice-chair Dec. 3 ahead of the first meeting of their two-year terms Dec. 11.

Hart was elected to the board in 2012 representing District 13. It includes all or parts of Gurnee, North Chicago, unincorporated Grayslake, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, North Chicago and Waukegan. She was previously a member of the Lake Bluff Park District Board and an employee of the Shields Township Assessor's Office. In her time on the board, Hart has served as the vice-chair of the Health and Community Services Committee and a member of the Law and Judicial Committee.

"Every election brings change," Hart said in a release announcing her new role. "Newly elected members bring energy, ideas and a fresh outlook and current board members offer a wealth of experience, knowledge and consistency that is so important. I am confident we will work together as a team to achieve positive results for the residents of Lake County.”

Cunningham has served on the board since 2002 and represents District 9, which includes parts of Waukegan and North Chicago. She has served as the chair of the Law and Judicial and the Diversity and Inclusion committees and served on the Health and Community Services Committee, among others. Prior to entering politics, she worked as a nurse with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a local nursing home. Her son, Sam, was elected mayor of Waukegan last year after 18 years on its City Council.

The new procurement policies were adopted by an 18-2 vote Tuesday. Michael Danforth, R-Fox River Grove, and Brent Paxton, R-Zion, voted against the change and newly elected Adam Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, was absent, according to the Lake County News-Sun. The new policies allow for a $4,000 account for mailings, $2,500 for travel and conferences and $500 for office supplies, all of which will be managed by county staff rather than charged on county cards issued to individual board members.

Judy Martini, R-Fox Lake, asked for funds from the travel account to be eligible for use in sending mailers. She said there was no "broad abuse of power" found in the use of the procurement cards, according to the News-Sun, noting only three of 21 board members had generated expenses of more than $500.

Related:

• Final Vote Count Gives Democrats Lake County Board For First Time
• Lake County P-Card Use Needs Improved Internal Controls: Report
• County Credit Card Policies Reconsidered Amid Spending Probe
• State Police Investigate Aaron Lawlor's Credit Card Spending