Former DuPage County State’s Atty. Anthony Peccarelli is being recommended to become DuPage’s first ethics officer.
County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom is recommending that Peccarelli assume the post next week. He will ask the board on Tuesday to approve Peccarelli’s appointment.
If approved, Peccarelli will be responsible for interpreting the county’s new ethics ordinance and investigating any potential ethical wrongdoing by county elected officials and employees. He will also review statements of economic interest and disclosure forms and release the findings of his investigations to the public and the County Board.
Last month, the County Board approved the ethics ordinance as part of a package proposed by Schillerstrom.
The package includes requirements that companies receiving county no-bid contracts disclose campaign contributions in excess of $1,000 a year. It also mandates no-bid firms to disclose the names of the business’ principals, officers and majority shareholders.
County Board members and the chairman, meanwhile, must disclose their financial interests in any entity seeking a business relationship with the county if they have an ownership of 7 1/2 percent or more.
The package also precludes county employees, board members and the chairman from accepting gifts or money from a firm doing business with the county.
Peccarelli has nearly 40 years of experience in law. Besides serving as state’s attorney, he served as DuPage County’s chief judge and on the Illinois Appellate Court.
“He is highly principled, very experienced and well respected,” Schillerstrom said in a prepared statement. “I am certain he is the best person for the job.”
