Will County Board reorganization moved up to Monday
BY CINDY WOJDYLA CAIN ccain@stmedianetwork.com November 28, 2012 7:52PM
Will County Executive Larry Walsh thanks the veterans for their service during Joliet's Veteran's Day Cetemony. | John Patsch~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: November 28, 2012 10:44PM
JOLIET — Grab your erasers, Will County Board watchers.
A board reorganization meeting that was tentatively scheduled for Dec. 12 has been scratched.
Republican board members wanted the meeting held separately from the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected board, which is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday. The board’s executive committee, dominated by Republicans, including some lame-duck members, agreed to hold it Dec. 12.
But Democrats will have the edge on the new 26-member board once it’s seated. So County Executive Larry Walsh, a Democrat, stepped in Wednesday and called for the reorganization meeting to be at 11:30 a.m. Monday. Walsh has the power to call special meetings.
“The election is over, and we’re ready to get down to work,” Walsh said. “It’s the holiday season, and a lot of people are going to be gone on vacations. People blocked Dec. 3 for county board business. We want to get it done and move on with the people’s business.”
During the reorganization, board chairman Jim Moustis (R-Frankfort Township) will likely have to step aside for Herbert Brooks Jr. (D-Joliet), who has been selected by Democrats to be the new chairman.
Democrats gained seats to achieve a 13-13 tie in the Nov. 6 election. Because Walsh can break tie votes on the board, the Democrats have a majority — something they haven’t enjoyed since 1980. If Brooks, a minister at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in Joliet, is selected as board chairman, it is believed he would be the first black chairman.
