Gov. Jim Edgar was honored Wednesday night by the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference as a longtime friend to village and city government and for his efforts to reform school funding.
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Edgar was presented with the conference’s Governmental Leader of the Year award for 1997 during its monthly dinner meeting at a Lisle hotel. The award is intended to recognize public officials who are seen as responsive on municipal issues.
“He has always taken the time, a lot of time, to sit and listen to our needs when we are in Springfield,” said Karen Bushy, village president of Oak Brook and president of the mayors and managers conference.
“He has not always agreed with us, but he always has given us his time and his attention.”
Conference officials said the two-term governor, who is not seeking re-election this year, has consistently opposed proposals for state mandates that provide for no increase in funding and vetoed legislation last year that would have increased the potential liabilities of local governments.
For his part, Edgar said he has always viewed himself in a partnership not only with state legislators, “but also with you.”
The mayors and managers conference represents 35 communities in the DuPage area.