421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD  
WHEATON, IL 60187  
DU PAGE COUNTY  
Legislative Committee  
Final Summary  
www.dupagecounty.gov  
Tuesday, January 9, 2024  
11:30 AM  
Room 3500B  
1.  
CALL TO ORDER  
At 11:35 AM the meeting was called to order by Chair Dawn DeSart.  
2.  
ROLL CALL  
Member Eckhoff joined the meeting one minute after the meeting started, missing the approval  
of the minutes, 24-0238.  
Additional Board Members present: Member Yoo, Member Cronin Cahill, Member Gustin,  
Member Rutledge and Member Deacon Garcia.  
Staff Present: Sheryl Markay (Chief Policy & Program Officer), Jason Blumenthal (Policy &  
Program Manager), Conor McCarthy (State's Attorney's Office),  
Guest: Greg Bales, Lobbyist with McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC  
Chaplin, Childress, DeSart, Eckhoff, Galassi, and Zay  
PRESENT  
3.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
3.A.  
24-0238  
Legislative Minutes - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, December 12, 2023  
ACCEPTED  
RESULT:  
Dawn DeSart  
MOVER:  
Michael Childress  
SECONDER:  
4.  
5.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
No Public Comment received.  
CHAIR'S REMARKS - CHAIR DESART  
Chair Dawn DeSart stated that she already made most of her remarks in County Board today.  
Chair DeSart introduced Greg Bales, a lobbyist from McGuireWoods, and read through Mr.  
Bales' bio, sharing his experience and accomplishments.  
6.  
ACTION ITEMS  
6.A.  
LEG-P-0001-24  
Recommendation for the approval of a County Contract to McGuireWoods Consulting  
LLC, to provide Consulting Services as Lobbyists representing DuPage County before the  
U.S. Congress and the Federal Executive Branch for DuPage County’s Division of  
Transportation, Public Works, Stormwater Management and all other County  
departments and agencies, for the period of February 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025,  
for County Board, for a contract total amount not to exceed $96,000. Other Professional  
Service not subject to competitive bidding per 55 ILCS 5/5-1022(a). Vendor selected  
pursuant to DuPage County Code Section 2-353(1)(b).  
Chair DeSart invited Greg Bales to say a few words where he shared that he feels very  
comfortable working with counties and will work towards getting DuPage the best ROI  
on their tax dollars and their fair share of federal funding.  
Questions were brought up concerning the time gap between lobbyist contracts and the  
dollar amount increase requested by the (new) proposed lobbyist McGuireWoods versus  
the previous contract with BGR Consulting (Bill Viney). Mrs. Sheryl Markay addressed  
those questions.  
There were questions of how Mr. Bales will represent both Republican and Democrat  
issues. Mr. Bales reassured the group that he and his firm are bi-partisan and work  
collaboratively. He further stated that McGuireWoods will purely follow the direction  
that the Board sets.  
There was discussion of the importance of DuPage County having representation in both  
Springfield and in Washington, D.C., pointing out the money brought to DuPage County  
through the work of our lobbyists. Mrs. Markay stated that having "boots on the ground"  
moving quickly to defeat legislation that takes away local authority or other bills that do  
not align with the county's Legislative agenda is hard to put a value on.  
APPROVED AT COMMITTEE  
Dawn DeSart  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Liz Chaplin  
Chaplin, Childress, DeSart, and Eckhoff  
Galassi, and Zay  
NAY:  
7.  
8.  
OLD BUSINESS  
No old business was discussed.  
NEW BUSINESS  
There was discussion about the following issues concerning migrants/asylum seekers.  
The amount that the State and City of Chicago have spent on caring for migrants/asylum seekers.  
The fact that the situation at the border is unsustainable.  
Affordable housing and jobs are essential for migrants/asylum seekers as well.  
Chair DeSart asked Mrs. Markay to include border control/security in the DuPage Federal  
Legislative agenda.  
Greg Bales shared the information he's heard at the State and Federal level regarding legislation  
pertaining to migrants/asylum seekers and border control.  
Chair Deborah Conroy stated that we can create a bi-partisan letter from our Board encouraging  
immigration reform at the Federal level. Chair Conroy shared that the county and surrounding  
municipalities are working to make sure the migrants/asylum seekers are getting to the landing  
zone safely. She expressed gratitude to Wheaton Mayor Suess and Mayors in Glen Ellyn and  
Elmhurst for their collaboration.  
Chair DeSart asked the Legislative Committee to reach out to Sheryl or herself with any items  
they would like to be addressed on the DuPage Federal Legislative agenda.  
9.  
ADJOURNMENT  
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.