Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County Chairman Greg Hart stopped an attempt by the Democratic wing of the DuPage County Board to formalize the body’s support for a bill that would allow local governments to lock up the unvaccinated.

"Protecting your medical privacy is important to me. That is why I respectfully raised concerns about my opponent Deb Conroy's latest bill HB 4640 in its current form. Conroy as well as her allies in the media and on the County Board (including my Republican primary opponent) tried to attack me personally - but I stood strong on my principles. Today, I was proud to successfully table the misguided measure to support this flawed legislation at the County Board. I appreciate the bipartisan coalition that stood with me," Hart said in a statement after the meeting.

State Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) is running for chairman of the Board of Commissioners in DuPage County. She is behind HB 4640 which is heavily unpopular judging by the 21,377 filing opposition slips versus only 188 in favor of the legislation. 



The bill would give local health departments and state politicians formal legal authority to quarantine individuals who don't follow their COVID-19 restrictions and rules.

Australia and China already have such operations in place in which forced quarantines of two weeks are common. Those interned have reported harsh treatment in the prison-like conditions.

DuPage County Board Democrats, with the exception of Ashley Selmon and Sadia Covert, continue to support HB 4640 and encourage the county to formally support the legislation despite documented privacy concerns.

Hart also addressed the issue during Wednesday night’s board meeting.

"My question for the members of the front row who engaged in these attacks last week is whether they or Rep. Conroy thought to ask the ACLU or the Illinois State Medical Society what they thought about the bill. Well, I did. I called the ACLU yesterday, and lo and behold, they shared that they too, just like me, have data privacy concerns about HB 4640 in its current form. They believe the bill needs to be amended…but as of right now, Rep. Conroy has not filed any amendments to this bill," Hart said.

"Never did I think that I would find myself on the same side as the ACLU on this issue, but here we are," Hart said. "And my question for the individuals who are pushing for this resolution is why don’t you share the ACLU’s concern? And I would encourage Rep. Conroy to follow the lead I took two weeks ago when I motioned to amend our legislative priorities to include specific references to protecting individual privacy rights."

Hart said he has continued to be subjected to attacks from the same group, plus Pete DiCianni (R), who is also challenging Hart in the Republican primary. 

DiCianni's graphics and marketing firm has done business with Democratic campaigns both locally and in Chicago. He also reportedly associated closely with convicted criminals. DiCianni also noted his close relationship with Conroy in a recent radio interview.

Conroy has alleged she has received death threats since filing the legislation.

The bill has effectively been "shelved" by House leadership.

The chairman post which pays about $128,000 per year. Her yearly salary as a legislator is almost $70,000 before bonuses.