Lauzen: 'I am not a politician. ... I am a financial expert'

GENEVA – Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen gave a blistering criticism of the County Board’s draft resolution to dissolve his coronavirus task force and put six board members and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns on an ad hoc committee to handle the $92.9 million in federal coronavirus money instead.

The County Board members to be named to the new committee at a special County Board meeting Thursday are Jarett Sanchez, D-Carpentersville, Angela Thomas, D-Aurora, John Hoscheit, R-St. Charles, Clifford Surges, R-Gilberts , Drew Frasz, R-Elburn and Matt Hanson, D- Aurora, according to the draft resolution.

Lauzen dismissed those choices as including three lame ducks – Hanson, Hoscheit and Thomas – and Burns as a conflict of interest.

Burns objected to that characterization.

"Conflict of interest? What is my conflict of interest?" Burns said. "I don't understand that assertion. My role, by definition, is to be an advocate for my community and an advocate for investment to recoup expenses related to the pandemic. I will proudly wear that badge because I will not stop advocating for my community or the communities of Metro West."

Hoscheit objected to the characterization that three County Board members are "lame ducks." Hoscheit said it was disingenuous for the Lauzen to say that about anyone when the chairman himself falls into that same category as this is the last year of his term.

"I take the job seriously," Hoscheit said. "We are going to work together to get it done."

In addition to himself, Lauzen had appointed as task force members Auditor Terry Hunt as chairman, Treasurer David Rickert, Executive Finance Director Joe Onzick and Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong.

“We have two competing approaches to spending the $93 million in federal taxpayer money,” Lauzen said. “I have a task force made up of the five best financial experts – not the politicians, the professionals. I am not a politician. I consider myself more a financial expert. ... Five financial experts versus three lame ducks and a conflict of interest."

When Lauzen – now in his second term as chairman – was reminded that he served 20 years in the Illinois Senate, he said he served on the Appropriations Committee and the Audit Commission as a reflection of his financial expertise.

“I am a financial expert,” Lauzen said. “I have gotten elected because I told people the truth and I stayed honest and used the common sense God gave me. … I am responsible as chairman of the Kane County Board to do things right. I consider it financial, not political. You want to say both? Fine.”

As to the 19 County Board members who called for the special meeting, Lauzen said, “If you have 13 votes, you can run roughshod over anybody.”

What happens if the task force passes a resolution Wednesday – as expected – and then County Board members at the special meeting Thursday dissolve the task force and take over its duties? What happens to the task force’s recommendation then?

Lauzen said it will go forward to the Executive Committee and then to the full County Board and the task force will dissolve anyway, because its work will be done.