‘Really big shoes to fill’: DeKalb County Board appoints Becky Springer as county treasurer

SYCAMORE – A former Sycamore alderwoman will soon step into the role as DeKalb County treasurer next month.

Sycamore native Becky Springer, a Republican, said she is set to be sworn in as county treasurer Feb. 5. She said she ultimately accepted her party’s nomination to be appointed to the position because she thought she could be a good fit for the office.

“It’s just a huge opportunity for me to serve and give back,” Springer said.

Springer’s comments come after the DeKalb County Board voted during its Wednesday, Jan. 20 meeting to appoint her as the acting county treasurer from Feb. 5, 2021 through Nov. 30, 2022. There was no discussion among County Board members during the meeting before the vote.

Christine Johnson, longtime DeKalb County Treasurer who’s been reelected seven times over the past nearly 25 years, had retired in December. Johnson had been appointed to the office in March 1994 after Charlotte Sundly, the county treasurer at the time, died in a car accident in January 1994 and was elected to the office in November 1994.

Springer said she is retail director for the Illinois Community Credit Union and has more than 20 years of banking experience, along with an economics degree from Northern Illinois University. She said she also served as Sycamore third ward alderwoman for more than two years.

“I moved outside of my ward [in 2017], so I had to resign,” Springer said.

Springer said she obviously has to get up to speed on a lot of details about the office very quickly, especially with property tax bills coming out before everybody knows it. She said she’s getting a better hold of necessary deadlines pertinent to the office as well.

“It’s going to be big learning curve for me,” Springer said. “But I’m a quick learner and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Springer said it’s absolutely her plan to run for office in the 2022 election. She said she’s already working toward that goal, with petitions starting later this year.

“So I’m ready to go,” Springer said. “Gotta get started right away.”

Springer said she believes her predecessor has been fabulous to work with in the transition. She said Johnson also put her in touch with other county treasurers throughout Illinois to help with the transition as well.

“I have some really big shoes to fill,” Springer said. “I’m just really honored and humbled to do that.”