CAMPAIGN DONATIONS AND GOVERNMENT-IS THERE A CONNECTION?
CORRINE PIEROG is the current Kane County Board Chair, running for re-election.
Ms. Pierog has received the following campaign donations from building and trade sources in 2023, which has been discovered by using a simple online search:
Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC-$2500.00
- IBEW Illinois PAC-$750.00
- LiUNA Chicago Laborers Council
- PAC-$2500.00
- LUNA Chicago Laborers District Council-$1,000.00
- Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11 PAC-$1500.00
- Teamsters Volunteers in Politics-$1500.00
- UFCW Local 881 PAC-$250.00
Unions, like all organizations and citizens, have the right to support candidates who align with their interests. But context matters. There are major budget issues before the Board that could favorably impact some unions if projects are approved. A core responsibility of the Board is avoiding even the appearance of impropriety.
Ms. Pierog is advocating for a new $30M – $50M Health Building for Kane County, even though approximately only 10 patients/week visit the facility. Is a new Health Building even necessary? Perhaps another solution could be reached using creative problem solving that does not need multi-million-dollar expenditures.
In addition, Ms. Pierog also supports a proposed new $110M campus for the County Clerk and County Board and related offices. A major spend of county resources in the midst of budget limits and decline of the Illinois economy.
Is there a connection between all the union donations and the possibility of new construction in Kane County? The question needs to be asked.