Will County Board Says Goodbye to 5 Members, Set to Reorganize

—Submitted by Will County

The Will County Board today bid adieu to five members that are retiring, leaving for another elected office or lost re-election bids. They represented four different districts and served for a combined 39 years.

“Every single one of these members gave and sacrificed in the name of public service,” said Speaker Herb Brooks, Jr. “We are extremely grateful for the time they invested to make the county a better place. In the wake of their departures, the Board is left with an experience void that is hard to measure.”

The five departing members with their years of service are Walter Adamic (D-Joliet) with 26 years, Reed Bible (D-Plainfield) with two years, David Izzo (R-Tinley Park) with three years, Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) with two years, and Diane Zigrossi (D-Crest Hill) with six years.

Adamic was first elected when he was 26 years old, holding the distinction as one of the youngest individuals to ever get elected to the Board, and has spent just that much time serving the county’s residents. Having started when President Ronald Reagan was still in office, he has seen a lot change during his tenure, including a county population that doubled from 350,000 to nearly 700,000 today.

“It’s been an honor to serve Will County as long as I have and work together with so many great people over almost three decades,” said Adamic. “I was raised and taught to always give back to our communities in whatever manner possible, and along the way, believe I always kept the best interests of WillCounty residents in mind. Many thanks go to my family and friends for their support and encouragement during my time as an elected official. I look forward to continuing to serve the county and volunteer my time wherever there is a need.”

Zigrossi was elected six years ago and quickly took on a leadership role. She leaves the Board as the Democratic Caucus Chair, the second highest ranking member.

“Much has been accomplished during my time on the Board because everyone came together to find bipartisan solutions to sometimes challenging situations,” said Zigrossi. “I’m proud to have served alongside so many professionals that were most interested in improving the quality of life for ourcounty’s residents. The time has come to step aside and allow others to lead, and I look forward to seeing WillCounty continue to thrive and flourish.”

The new Board will be seated on December 1 during a reorganization meeting, after newly elected board members are sworn-in. The Board will then take nominations and vote for a chairman.