Dupage Policy Journal

Breakthrough Ideas CEO Jeanne Ives is criticizing fellow DuPage County Republicans for donating to and providing support for the campaign of DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy, a progressive Democrat.

Ives is a former state representative and GOP gubernatorial candidate who served in the Illinois House of Representatives with Conroy.

“No Illinois Republican should be donating to or showing up at any Democrat fundraiser,” Ives told DuPage Policy Journal. “Democrat policies have destroyed the state of Illinois. I am disgusted that any of my fellow Republicans would do so or defend other Republicans who do so, especially a fundraiser for Deb Conroy.

“Conroy is opposed to every single aspect of our Republican party platform," Ives said. "Any Democrat that cares about public safety shouldn't support Conroy either. As a state legislator, she sponsored and voted for a bill to decriminalize enough Fentanyl to kill 1500 people. She also voted for the SAFE-T Act that has received national attention for its radical provisions that let dangerous criminals roam free.

“For 10 years in the Illinois House, Conroy was a Madigan foot soldier and played the game to get elected again and again with his money. She has voted for legislation increasing taxes and spending and hurting businesses and families. Republicans should oppose her at every turn. Any Republican that donated to Republicans who turned around and donated to Conroy should ask for their contribution back.”

The comments from Ives come after Jim Zay, chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party and a DuPage County Board member, asked Republicans to not fight one another.

"If we don’t come together as a party, then we will be destined to be the minority party for years to come," Zay said in a letter. "A Republican in an elected office is better than one of the other party. For the last three years, I have tried to bring people together and will continue to do so, and for those who want me to tear down and call out members of our party publicly, that will not happen."

Zay noted DuPage Policy Journal’s reporting revealing donations to Conroy’s campaign committee by notable Republicans, including DuPage County Board member Sam Tornatore and former DuPage County board member Donald Puchalski.

Another Republican, former DuPage County Board member Pete DiCianni, was paid by Conroy’s campaign for marketing efforts to get her elected.

Puchalski’s donation came two weeks before Conroy named him to a paid position on the DuPage Airport Authority Board of Commissioners.

Conroy consistently supported former House Speaker Michael Madigan until the FBI’s investigation into the speaker as “Public Official A” in a settlement agreement with ComEd became clear in 2020 after which she distanced herself, eventually leaving office a year after Madigan to become chair of the DuPage County Board.

Conroy was a state representative for the 46th District from 2013 until 2022.

The 46th District includes the DuPage County communities of Elmhurst, Oakbrook Terrace, Wheaton, Addison, Bloomingdale, Milton, York, Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Lombard and Villa Park.