Dupage Policy Journal

Trustee Autumn Geist, a Democrat who ran with Lisle Township Supervisor Diane Hewitt in 2021 said it is time for Hewitt to resign. Hewitt is also known for her leadership roles with Indivisible DuPage and the Lisle Township Democratic Organization.

“She just creates a wave of chaos, and we’re spending so many hours undoing and unraveling the messes,” Geist told the Daily Herald. “I really believe her heart is in the right place, but her challenges overshadow her strength. We don’t have confidence in each other. It’s a mutual no-confidence issue.”

Geist’s comments came as Lisle trustees unanimously cast a vote of “no confidence” against Hewitt, calling for her resignation due to concerns about her leadership style and actions, calling attention to alleged financial misdeeds including overpayments to herself and “significant other.” Hewitt, however, disputes the allegations, according to the Daily Herald.

The Lisle Township trustees have filed a formal resolution noting their stance accusing Hewitt of a “lack of leadership and integrity.” 

“[T]he Lisle Township Trustees, Clerk, Assessor and Highway Commissioner have observed Township Supervisor Diane Hewitt (“Supervisor") take repeated actions that are not in the best interests of the Township and its residents,” the resolution read. 

The items the trustees accuse Hewitt of befouling include an appropriations ordinance not discussed with the finance committee, “failing to uphold decorum and foster respect” at board meetings, failing to address problems with the Lisle Transit Program, failing to make preparations for a food drive, limiting access to records by the township clerk, “failing to directly and honestly answer questions” posed by board members, “making false claims of ageism” and denying a security presence during board meetings, the resolution reported.

The resolution also noted Hewitt has “shown a lack of competence” in many areas of running the township including “making spending decisions that exceed the township’s budgets,” making unapproved hires, failing to comply with the Truth in Taxation law, repeatedly issuing checks including overpayments to herself and her significant other, not addressing financial matters, refusing to inform board members of the township’s financial status and creating a “disruptive, unstable work environment” that has led to the resignation of more than a dozen township employees.

She is also accused of “making verbal attacks, including growling, at staff members and board members,” according to the resolution.

Hewitt’s experience in government before her election was as a paid political consultant for the leftist organization Progressive Action which she founded and ran in Lisle from January 2018 until her election in November 2020, according to LinkedIn. Through Progressive Action, Hewitt was campaign manager for state Sen. Laura Ellman.

She also serves as a board member for far-left Indivisible DuPage and has served in a variety of leadership positions for the Lisle Township Democratic Organization, LinkedIn reported. Her other experience includes 32 years as a petsitter for BeClaws We Care Petsitting. The graduate of Benet Academy High School and Truman State University also worked as a manager at FedEx before launching her political career.