§ 3d — Elected board of commissioners in certain other counties

If the boundaries of a district are co-extensive with the boundaries of a county having a population of more than 200,000 but less than 800,000, bordering the State of Wisconsin but not adjoining any county with a population of over 2,000,000, all commissioners of the forest preserve district shall be elected at large by the voters of the county, beginning with the general election held in 2010 and each succeeding general election. Nomination of candidates for the office of commissioner at the initial and each succeeding election shall be made by petition signed in the aggregate for each candidate by not less than 100 qualified voters of the forest preserve district. Seven commissioners shall be elected, with candidates receiving the highest, second-highest, and third-highest number of votes being elected for 6-year terms. Candidates receiving the fourth-highest and fifth-highest number of votes shall be elected for 4-year terms. Candidates receiving the sixth-highest and seventh-highest number of votes shall be elected for 2-year terms. Thereafter, each commissioner shall be elected for a 6-year term. After each general election, the forest preserve district commissioners shall elect a president from among their members for a 2-year term. Each commissioner shall be a resident of the county from which the commissioner was elected no later than the date of the commencement of the term of office. The term of office for the president and commissioners elected under this Section shall commence on the first Monday of the month following the month of election. Neither a commissioner nor the president of the board of commissioners shall serve simultaneously in any other elective or appointive office in the county. The president, with the advice and consent of the board of commissioners, shall appoint a secretary, treasurer, and any other officer deemed necessary by the board of commissioners. The officers need not be members of the board of commissioners. The president shall have the powers and duties as set forth in Section 12 of this Act. Candidates for commissioner shall not be candidates of established political parties, but shall be non-partisan. If a vacancy in the office of president or commissioner occurs, other than by expiration of the president's or a commissioner's term, the forest preserve district board of commissioners shall declare that a vacancy exists, and the board of commissioners shall, within 60 days after the date of the vacancy, upon the majority vote of the commissioners then serving, elect a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. If, however, more than 28 months remain in the unexpired term of a commissioner, at the time of appointment, the appointment shall be until the next general election, at which time the vacated office of commissioner shall be filled by election for the remainder of the term. All other vacancies in nomination shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the Election Code. The president and commissioners elected under this Section shall serve without compensation. The president and commissioners may be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses actually incurred in performing their official duties under this Act in accordance with the provisions of Section 3a. The cost of reimbursement under this Section shall be paid by the forest preserve district. This Section does not apply to a forest preserve district created under Section 18.5 of the Conservation District Act.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 104-40, eff. 1-1-26 .)