Dupage Policy Journal

Democratic DuPage County Board members are voicing unanimous support for a bill that would enable local health officials to create Australia and China-style concentration camps for Illinoisans refusing to take COVID-19 jabs.

Board Members Paula Deacon Garcia, Mary FitzGerald Ozog, Liz Chaplin, Dawn DeSart and Julie Renehan say the bill's sponsor, State Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park), is being unfairly attacked for her bill, which would empower local health departments with data to "isolate or quarantine persons who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccines, medications, or other treatments." 

Local health departments would be authorized to "adopt any rules" necessary to do so, according to the bill's text.

The five DuPage Democrats defended Conroy, who is also running for DuPage County Board Chairman, and slammed GOP candidate and fellow board member Greg Hart of Hinsdale for standing in opposition to the COVID-19 concentration camp measure.



"Deb Conroy's bill, HB 4640, presents a serious breach of the public's trust," Hart said in a written statement. “There has already been considerable opposition to this bill—more than 20,000 opposing witness slips so far." 

"But if that is not enough to communicate the public's sentiments, then I am happy to express on behalf of all Illinoisans my strong opposition to Deb Conroy's legislation and the blatant overreach it permits. I call on Representative Conroy to listen to her constituents instead of special interests and pull her bill," Hart said.

Deacon Garcia, of Lisle, said Conroy's bill was only "trying to streamline information sharing" and blamed "misinformation" for opposition to the bill, which included 21,377 witness slips in opposition as of Feb. 11.

At a Feb. 8 DuPage County Board meeting, Deacon Garcia said opposition to the bill "caused" death threats for Conroy and "encouraged people to be angry." She said the bill, which she characterized as sharing information for "nutrition programs," caused "mental suffering" for Conroy's staff.

Ozog, of Glen Ellyn, said Hart and other opponents should support the bill because it "was promoted by our health department" and warned them to "stay in their lane" and refrain from commenting on state legislation with which they disagree.

"People will be hurt and people will be killed," Ozog said. "You need to understand that."

Chaplin, of Downers Grove, said Conroy's bill was "good legislation" that was "simple." She assured the board the bill would lead to "no overreach or breach of public trust."

DeSart, of Naperville, said Hart's opposition to Conroy's bill “inflamed people to send death threats and rape threats to an elected individual." She also called for him to be removed from his leadership role on the Heroin Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Task Force for opposing Conroy and the health department's wishes.

When the attempt to remove Hart failed, the five Democrats and Republican Peter DiCianni of Elmhurst, who is challenging Hart in the Republican primary, pressed for a vote of "no confidence."

Despite the overall air of political aggression, some Democrat board members even voiced their support for Hart.

County Board Member Greg Schwarze of Carol Stream said Hart was a "wonderful chairman of the HOPE Task Force" and should remain chairman. Member Ashley Selmon of Elmhurst slammed Member DiCianni for bringing politics into the board room.