South Chicago Heights approves audit contract after Village President raises ethics concern

The Village of South Chicago Heights Board of Trustees approved Resolution 2026-R-23 on June 18, 2026, authorizing GW & Associates, PC to perform the village's audit for the FY2025 period in a roll call vote that carried 6 to 0. Village President Terry Matthews presented the resolution and said he had asked State Rep. Anthony DeLuca to speak with Chicago Heights Mayor Dave Gonzalez about opting out of the next South Chicago Heights election, warning that "if the board approves this contract and Mayor Dave Gonzalez gets involved in our elections, it would be unethical for his firm to complete our FY 2025 Audit."

Matthews told the board he had contacted Rep. DeLuca to raise the matter with Mayor Gonzalez; the meeting minutes report that Mayor Gonzalez told DeLuca he "would not be involved unless Mayor Matthews gave him good reason." Trustee Rose Ann Diederich moved to approve the resolution and Trustee Daryl Crudup seconded. The roll call vote recorded ayes from John Ross, Tracy Bosco, Sally Marrufo, Eric Stanton, Daryl Crudup and Rose Ann Diederich; there were no nays or abstentions. No public comment was taken during the special meeting.