The Revolving Door at DuPage County that Stands to Benefit Board Members Needs To Stop

Mr. Sheahan goes to Navistar

By Susan Frick Carlman scarlman@stmedianetwork.com February 1, 2012 4:08PM

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Brien Sheahan, former DuPage County Board member, is a new Government Affairs Director for Navistar in Lisle.

Updated: February 1, 2012 5:51PM

The latest DuPage County Board member to step down has a new connection to the workings of local taxing bodies.

Elmhurst attorney Brien Sheahan, who on Tuesday officially wrapped up a decade representing District 2 on the board, is now a director of government affairs for Navistar International Corp., based in Lisle.

Patrick Charbonneau, a vice president for government relations at Navistar, issued an in-house announcement of Sheahan’s hiring Wednesday afternoon.

“Brien’s extensive background and leadership will help us support the needs of Navistar’s expanding businesses in Washington and our key states,” Charbonneau wrote. “Brien brings a strong governmental background to our organization. From 2007 until joining Navistar, he served as general counsel for the Illinois Republican Party, providing guidance and legal support to state and federal candidates. He also served as deputy executive director for the Illinois Housing Development Authority, where he managed state and federal governmental affairs. He also served as legal counsel to the Illinois Commerce Commission and as an assistant to Gov. Jim Edgar.”

Julie Kelly, an aide to DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, said she had received confirmation that Sheahan began his new position this week.

Sheahan announced Jan. 18 that he would be leaving the board, citing a desire to spend more time with his wife and their 14-month-old son. He attended his final regular session of the board Jan. 24. Several attempts to reach him by phone to discuss the new appointment Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Effective with last year’s mandated redrawing of the electoral map, District 2 now includes the northeast corner of Naperville. The district is unique in having no incumbents on the ballot in November’s general election. Pat O’Shea, a board member for the past dozen years, is running for a seat on the 18th Judicial Circuit Court bench. Jeff Redick, who has been on the board since 2006, was appointed to the Illinois Tollway board last fall and will not seek a new term either.

At least one of those who hope to fill the three available seats next fall has questions about the integrity of Sheahan’s job shift.

“This County Board member is taking this job with Navistar, leaving his government post to oversee government affairs there,” said Democrat Liz Chaplin of Downers Grove, a former DuPage Water Commission member who is in her second campaign for the County Board, running unopposed in next month’s primary. “How deceitful to tell people he’s leaving to be with his 1-year-old son.”