Cindy Cronin Cahill, an accountant who was treasurer of Elmhurst from 1989 to 1993, announced this week that she is “exploring” a run for a seat on the DuPage County board as a board member representing District 1.
According to Cahill’s Oct. 4 news release, District 1 includes the towns or portions of Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Addison, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Itasca, Elk Grove, Bloomingdale, Glendale Heights and Roselle.
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In a phone conversation with Pioneer Press, Cahill said she expects to make a formal announcement later this fall. She said she is still getting her team together.
Cronin said there wasn’t a particular person or event behind her decision to consider a run. “I’ve always been interested in politics, I’m always interested in getting involved,” she said. “I am looking to give back to my community and looking to serve.”
Cahill grew up in Elmhurst. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1980 with a degree in accounting. She is a CPA and worked as an auditor before opening her own firm, Cahill & Jensen CPAs, LLC, 33 years ago.
In addition to her time as Elmhurst treasurer, she was a commissioner with the Illinois Liquor Control Commission from 2012 through 2019. She is also a trustee with the Notre Dame Club of Chicago Scholarship Foundation.
Cahill noted there is currently no Republican woman on the county board and said she is hoping to change that.
Cahill acknowledged that her family name is a familiar one on the county board. Her brother Dan Cronin is the longtime chairman of the DuPage County Board. Dan Cronin recently announced that he would not seek reelection when his third term ends next year.
Cahill said her brother has not endorsed her. “Right now, I don’t believe Dan has endorsed anybody,” Cahill said. “It’s not about Dan, it’s about me, and I would run on my record.”
If she decides to run, Cahill’s first contest would come in the primary election next June. To enter that race, she would need to begin circulating nominating petitions next January. Top vote-getters in each party in June will move on to the general election in November.
Two current County Board members reached Monday said the announcement of Cahill’s intent to “explore” was news to them. Reached by phone Monday, neither District 1 board member Sam Tornatore nor District 2 board member Peter DiCianni said they had heard of Cahill’s intention to explore a run for the board. Neither offered any further comment.
Graydon Megan is a freelance reporter.