A majority of LaSalle County Board members today didn’t go along with Chairman Don Jensen’s idea of naming Craig Emmett to the insurance trust committee. Emmett would have replaced Jill Bernal. After a parliamentary move, she’s staying.
Member Douglas Trager says Bernal wants to stay on the board that manages the county’s self-insurance fund. He said it’s nothing against Emmett. But since Emmett didn’t ask for the appointment and Bernal did, she should stay.
Emmett isn’t bothered by not being confirmed to the committee. He says Chairman Jensen asked him to serve on the committee this morning. But he also thinks Bernal will continue doing a good job.
Bernal has been on the committee for two years. She says she’s humbled by the support.
Jensen declined comment after the meeting. During the meeting, he said he wanted Emmett because of his financial background.
Just last week, a board majority went against naming Jensen the Committee on Appointments Chair and went with Arratta Znaniecki. She led the charge to keep Bernal on the insurance trust board.
The parliamentary move came from a requirement that the insurance trust committee members be appointed by the board chairman with the advice and consent of the board. County Board Attorney Patrick Herrmann explained that only the chairman can appoint someone to that particular committee. If the board wants someone else, it can reject the chairman’s nominee. But naming someone else to vote on is still the chairman’s privilege. Board members can suggest someone else but can’t nominate someone.
After the vote against Emmett, Jensen nominated Bernal as he was asked. She got the majority’s approval, including support from Emmett.
LaSalle County Board member Craig Emmett, WCMY photo
LaSalle County Board member Jill Bernal, campaign photo
How they voted:
Against Craig Emmett nomination: McNally, Owens, Oscepinski, Bernal, Kasap, Torres, Trager, Beckett, Carretto, Walsh, Znaniecki, Blue, Tooley, Roach, Slager, Busch.
For Craig Emmett nomination: Small, Findley Smith, Bright, Emmett, Stockley, Gatza, Savitch, Brown, Dose, Aubry, McEmery.
For Jill Bernal nomination: McNally, Small, Owens, Emmett, Stockley, Gatza, Oscepinski, Kasap, Savitch, Torres, Brown, Trager, Beckett, Carretto, Walsh, Dose, Znaniecki, Blue, Tooley, Roach, Slager, Busch.
Against Jill Bernal nomination: Findley Smith, Bright, Aubry, McEmery.
Bernal abstained.
Board members not listed weren’t present.