The three Democrats elected to the DuPage County Board last week will find themselves vastly outnumbered, but there may be an opportunity for them to team up with some Republicans to promote an agenda of government transparency and fiscal discipline — key campaign issues Democrats focused on this election cycle.

Since he was elected to the board in 2002, Brien Sheahan, R-2nd District, of Elmhurst has been critical of County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, especially the Naperville Republican’s handling of the county’s recent financial woes.

Sheahan, who was re-elected, said there is a group of about half a dozen “reform-minded” Republicans who will reach out to their new Democratic counterparts.

“I think we can really come together and work on a reform agenda that’s going to benefit all residents of DuPage County, Republicans and Democrats,” Sheahan said. “I hope we should have three allies in that fight.”

In February’s GOP primary, Schillerstrom used his political fund to bankroll the campaign of Lombard Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick, who was narrowly defeated in her bid to unseat Sheahan.

The Democrats — Rita Gonzalez, 1st District, of Addison; Tony Michelassi, 5th District, of Aurora; and Dirk Enger, 6th District, of Winfield — all said some Republican board members have already reached out to them.

Michelassi, who at 23 years old is the youngest person ever elected to the County Board, said he hopes to work on issues like salary reductions for board members, government transparency and political contributions by county contractors with Republicans who campaigned on similar platforms.

“There’s definitely a great opportunity for bipartisan cooperation,” Michelassi said. “These are all just the beginning. I think we’ll be able to find a lot of things we’ll be able to work on along with some Republicans.”

Cooperative spirit

The 12 recently elected County Board members will be sworn in next month. Already, both parties are playing up the need to reach across the newly formed aisle.

Democrats will have to work with Republicans to get anything done. While the Republicans will not necessarily need the Democratic votes, they acknowledge the need to work with their new colleagues.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a challenge,” said County Board member Jim Zay, R-6th District, of Carol Stream, who was re-elected this year. “The only time you say you’re a Republican or Democrat is when you put your name on the ballot. After the election, you’re a County Board member and you’re going to work for everyone in the district.”

Enger, who received more votes than Zay, also emphasized the need for cooperation.

“With me, it’s never been about the party,” said Enger, who previously ran two unsuccessful campaigns for the Illinois House of Representatives. “It’s about the people, what I heard when I went door-to-door. ... I believe in bipartisanship. That’s the only way we can get things done.”

For many board members, working across party lines will be nothing new. Several board members have a background in municipal government, where the offices are nonpartisan.

“Everyone should be open to a good idea,” said Paul Fichtner, R-1st District, of Elmhurst, who was an alderman before being elected to the County Board in 2004. “If (the Democrats) come up with a good idea, the board should act on it.”  

Fichtner won a second term this year.

An Obama bump

Barack Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate to win DuPage County in recent memory.

While it might be easy to write off the rare success of Democratic County Board candidates as a byproduct of excitement about Obama, College of DuPage political science professor David Goldberg said he does not think that is the case.

“You’d think that if Obama had coattails, there would have been more upsets,” Goldberg said.

Despite picking up the three board seats, DuPage Democrats did not score any victories in races for countywide offices or the Illinois Legislature. Incumbent U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam, R-6th District, of Wheaton and Judy Biggert, R-13th District, of Hinsdale were re-elected. However, in the Biggert race, Democratic challenger Scott Harper earned more votes than anyDemocratic candidate in the history of the 13th District.

What the County Board victories indicate is that the Democratic Party is working hard to build support on the local level, Goldberg said.

“I do see the Democrats in DuPage County working very hard to build a stronger ground game to make the party more competitive,” he said.

Bob Peickert, chairman of the DuPage County Democratic Party, said if Democrats were merely dragged along on Obama’s coattails, all 10 board candidates would have been elected.

“Maybe people are starting to realize that there’s a need to have balance,” Peickert said.

Schillerstrom, who also serves as secretary of the county GOP, said the Democratic success should be a wake-up call to his party.

“Members of the County Board and everybody who’s running in DuPage County need to start taking the Democrats seriously,” Schillerstrom said. “If (Republicans) sit on the sidelines and think it’s going to happen automatically, they’re going to lose.”

Looking forward

In 2010, six more board seats will be open for election for two-year terms.

For Democrats, the election represents an opportunity to gain greater strength on the board. For the GOP, it will be a chance to ensure that DuPage remains a Republican stronghold.

To do so, Republican candidates will need to spread the message that the services residents enjoy are a result of the party’s leadership in the county, Schillerstrom said.

“Generally, people are happy with their local government,” he said.

Peickert said in the near future the Democratic Party will begin recruiting candidates to run for county, state and federal offices in 2010.

“I think the fact that we were able to get some Democrats elected to the County Board will send the message to people who are interested in running that it’s possible for a Democrat to win in DuPage County,” Peickert said.