DuPage Board Censures County Clerk, Alleging Refusal To Comply With Financial Rules

DUPAGE COUNTY — The DuPage County Board recently voted to censure County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek, asserting the clerk "refuses to comply with basic financial rules." The censure comes amid ongoing financial issues between the board and Kaczmarek.

During the board's Nov. 25 meeting, members voted 15-1 in favor of the censure. Dawn DeSart was the sole board member to vote in opposition to the censure.

In a statement, DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy said,

"Good governance is not optional. It is the foundation of public trust. Every elected official has a responsibility to follow the law and manage their office responsibly. We are tasked to work together to solve problems, not create them. When an elected official will not do those things, it undermines the confidence our residents have in our institution. The Board took a necessary step today to protect the integrity of DuPage County."

According to the resolution, Kaczmarek "has failed to adhere to County accounting principles. She is further accused of making purchases that "lack essential financial documentation, including contracts or invoices" and have delayed payments to vendors.

In 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Kaczmarek by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office asserting Kaczmarek was in violation of the state's Local Government Prompt Payment Act. In September 2024, County Board Chair Deb Conroy said Kaczmarek failed to comply with DuPage County's practices.

Kaczmarek responded with a countersuit naming Conroy, among others. The suit states that the county board challenged invoices, including some involving "technical issues."

In October, Kaczmarek filed a motion for a temporary restraining order seeking seeking "immediate payment" for two election vendors owed more than $115,000 each, a news release said. She withdrew the motion after the vendors were paid in November.