Will County Board Republicans call for Traynere resignation

Just over a week after a judge found Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere guilty of two counts of misdemeanor computer tampering, some County Board Republicans called Thursday for her resignation.

Steve Balich, a Republican member from Homer Glen, used his time at the end of Thursday’s board meeting to bring up the case and ask that Traynere resign.

“That misdemeanor is a serious misdemeanor,” Balich said. “I’m still very upset about it. … I am frustrated because I was violated.”

Traynere, a Bolingbrook Democrat, was accused of entering then-County Board Chair Judy Ogalla’s email in 2024 without her permission to test out a rumor that all board members were issued the same email password when they were given new computers. Traynere testified she never expected the rumor to be true and was surprised she was able to access Ogalla’s email.

Traynere testified she didn’t know she was still logged into Ogalla’s account when she opened her computer hours later and forwarded an email that Balich had sent Ogalla.

“I feel violated because my email went to God knows who,” Balich said. “And I don’t think that was right.”

Traynere was found not guilty of forwarding Balich’s email. During the verdict March 9, Judge Derek Ewanic agreed that Traynere believed she was in her own account when she forwarded Balich’s email.

Traynere was on the Democratic primary Tuesday for District 11, which covers the Bolingbrook area. Four candidates filed for two available seats with Traynere capturing 24.3% of the total votes cast, the second highest, according to unofficial results.

While primary results do not become official until April 7, Traynere and Sheldon Watts, the top vote-getter, will likely continue onto November to compete for two board seats against Republican Steven Smith.

“Mr. Balich can continue to be angry and continue to malign me at every meeting if that floats his boat,” Traynere said. “But the voters in my district are returning me to the County Board at least as a candidate in the November election.”

Traynere said the accusations have always been a political attack against her. Because of what transpired in 2024, all board members now have unique passwords, she said.

“Once I learned of this issue, I immediately contacted the county executive’s office and the (information technology) department,” Traynere said. “I consider what I did being a whistleblower. The fact that I might get punished for that, well I won’t be the first whistleblower in this country to be punished. Probably not the last.”

Board member Mark Revis, a Plainfield Republican, also called for Traynere’s resignation, saying he was concerned about the damage the incident has done to the county’s credibility.

Throughout the discussion, County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant asked for decorum on the floor and reminded the board to follow the guidelines it has set, which is not to address other members, disrespect other members or discuss personalities.

“We are not a political forum when we are in here,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “We are here to legislate and do policy.”

County Board Speaker Joe VanDuyne, a Wilmington Democrat, said personal attacks on the County Board floor are wrong.

“Calling somebody out in a public forum is uncalled for,” VanDuyne said. “We are here to legislate. If you want to use your three minutes and your opportunity to drag somebody through the mud in a public comment, I have zero respect for you.”

Other County Board Republicans did not call Traynere out by name, but said board members need to be accountable for their actions. Outside incidents are distracting from the county board’s goal to serve the public, they said.

“Trust in our elected officials is critical,” Naperville Republican Julie Berkowicz said. “And trust extends to all members of our team. This includes the staff at the county. It includes all elected officials, and it includes fellow county board members. The ability for constituents to trust in their elected officials is also critical. This trust has been broken.”

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Republican Leader Jim Richmond, of Mokena, said a whistleblower needs to go to the right entity and not be a “rogue agent.” He said one option the board can do is to censure someone.

“I don’t care if you are a D or an R, you need to bring your best behavior into this room,” Richmond said.

Democratic Leader Sherry Williams of Crest Hill said the board needs to follow its own rules and try to come together as a board.

“Right now the behavior that I am seeing is behavior we would not accept from children,” Williams said.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter.