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DuPage County board member rebuts online accusations over chair pay and donor ties
Summary
A long exchange recorded at the meeting featured Member Tornator denying claims in an online post that linked recent proposals to raise chair compensation to donor influence and family employment at a vendor; several colleagues defended the review process and said raises attach to seats rather than individuals.
A tense exchange at the end of the DuPage County Board meeting focused on an online Substack post that criticized recent proposals to change compensation for elected county officers and accused board insiders of improper influence.
Member Tornator spoke at length to rebut assertions he said appeared in the online commentary: he denied that his motion sought to set a chair'salary to $200,000 as alleged in the post, rejected suggestions of a conflict of interest tied to a family member and Superior Ambulance, and said salary adjustments apply to the office (the seat) rather than to a person. He described the online piece as "misinformed, filled with untruths, borderline defamatory, and mean-spirited," and said he would respond at the county board meeting rather than online.
Other board members defended the process used to consider salary recommendations, saying staff prepared comparative data across collar counties and that vice-chair outreach to board members was part of typical preparation rather than an "inside job." Member Galassi and others reiterated that members may decline pay increases and that the county will provide forms for members who do not wish to accept raises.
Why it matters: The exchange shows intra-board tensions about transparency, compensation and public criticism. Members emphasized that raises are attached to seats and described staff-led research and outreach prior to votes. Several members urged civility and direct engagement rather than online attacks.
Board action and outcome: The transcript records extended remarks and rebuttals but does not show a new final vote on a compensation ordinance during this meeting. The chair closed the meeting without entering executive session and adjourned to the next scheduled meeting.
