McHenry Times

McHenry County issued the following announcement on July 31.

The McHenry County Board will vote on three major reforms to further cement its reputation as a state and national leader for good government.

Its Ad Hoc Committee on Governmental Consolidation recommended Tuesday that the full board vote to put two binding referendums on the Nov. 6 midterm ballot to impose term limits on County Board members and the County Board Chairman. They also voted to recommend that the County Board pass a resolution reducing its size by 25 percent, from 24 to 18 members.

“Today’s actions are a huge step forward for empowering voters to choose the way they are governed,” County Board Chairman Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said. “Two years ago, almost 80 percent of county voters said in an advisory referendum that the County Board should be reduced in size. The same year, a poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute put support for term limits in Illinois at 80 percent. The committee’s vote today sends a message that its members heard the people they represent loud and clear, and I’m confident the full County Board will follow suit.”

The proposed referendums would ask voters to limit the County Board Chairman to no more than two terms as of the 2020 election, and to limit County Board members to no more than 12 years as of the 2022 redistricting election, when the size reduction ordinance would take effect.

“The County Board isn’t making the big decisions on term limits – the voters are, which is the way it should be,” Franks said. “I want to thank the Ad-Hoc Committee, as well as the many other County Board members who attended its meetings, for bringing a lot of good ideas to the table and working together to do the people’s will.”

The referendums will be voted on at a special meeting Aug. 16, to meet the state deadline of Aug. 20 to put binding referendums on the Nov. 6 ballot. The ordinance to reduce the County Board’s size, in accordance with board rules, will be put on 30-day review for a likely September vote.

Original source can be found here.