DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin has accepted the resignation of DuPage Election Commission Chairman J.P. “Rick” Carney.

Carney resigned last weekend, according to a press release from DuPage County. Cronin, of Elmhurst, and a majority of the County Board members requested Carney step down after a report concluded the commission had poor procurement and ethics practices, according to the release.

“I appreciate Rick stepping aside to allow us to start anew with fresh leadership at the Election Commission,” Cronin said in a statement. “We appreciate his service and wish him well in the future.”

Carney has served as chairman of the commission since 2006; his term ends in January 2013. Through state statute, Cronin appoints members to the three-person Election Commission panel, which consists of representatives from both political parties.

Carney wrote in his letter of resignation that the integrity of the Election Commision has been the focus of his service on the board, and that Cronin's recent report, "documents the organizational efficiencies that have saved taxpayers approximately $5 million."

"Since 2006 the DuPage County Election Commission has successfully and efficiently administered an unprecedented level of federal and state election procedures and policies that have provided more access to voting at less cost to taxpayers with one hundred precent accuracy," he said. "No one has questioned that."

Carney added that costly health and pension benefits to board members have ended under his direction.

Cronin will appoint a replacement commissioner prior to the next Election Commission meeting on May 8. Last week Cronin appointed Cathy Ficker Terrill of Elmhurst and Art Ludwig of West Chicago to fill the expired terms of the other two commissioners.