Will County Committee Pulls Single-Member District Referendum

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, removed a proposed referendum on single-member county board districts after learning the question would have to be binding rather than advisory.

Single-Member Districts Key Points:

• The committee voted to remove Resolution 26-4989, which would have established single-member County Board districts.
• Speaker Joe VanDuyne said the intent was a non-binding advisory referendum, but the State’s Attorney advised that changing board size or election method requires a binding referendum.
• Member Jacqueline Traynere said she opposes the current two-member districts because they create the risk of a tied 11-11 board.
• The committee removed the item by voice vote.

WILL COUNTY — The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, removed a proposed referendum on single-member county board districts from its agenda, ending — at least for now — a measure that had been the subject of weeks of discussion.

Speaker Joe VanDuyne told the committee he had intended Resolution 26-4989 as a non-binding, advisory referendum to gauge resident sentiment, but that the State’s Attorney’s office, after research, advised the question would have to be a binding referendum to change the board’s structure and election process. Because the committee did not wish to advance a binding measure, VanDuyne asked for a motion to remove the item, which passed by voice vote.

Member Jacqueline Traynere said she supported removal but for a different reason than the legal one. She said the county moved from three-member to two-member board districts in 2010 without any referendum, and that she considers it a mistake to keep an even-numbered board structure. The board has been tied roughly four or five times since 2012, she said, leaving the county executive — who is not a member of the legislative body — to break the tie. Traynere said she would push during the next redistricting to return to odd-numbered districts.

Member Daniel Butler said an 11-11 board “would be the perfect number” if the executive were barred from breaking ties, arguing it would force the two parties to cooperate. Member Sherry Newquist said she favored removal simply because she did not believe most residents cared about the issue and the board had more pressing priorities. Member David Oxley questioned a savings figure cited for reducing the board, saying a claimed $600,000 in savings appeared closer to $253,000 by his own math.