Dan Cronin Likely to Appoint Brien Sheahan's Successor

Brien Sheahan’s unexpected resignation from the DuPage County Board will prompt County Chairman Dan Cronin to appoint a replacement to finish Sheahan’s unexpired term.

One day after Cronin seeking the appointment to replace Debra Olson’s seat on the board, his name from the ballot and resign his seat by the end of January. Sheahan has been a County Board member for 10 years. He said his decision to withdraw from the election and resign his seat on the board was not influenced by Olson’s departure.

Sheahan, an Elmhurst Republican, said he based his decision on the demands of parenting and the desire for more children. The 42-year-old said he came to his conclusion over the holidays. He said serving on the County Board takes a large amount of his time, time which he would now rather devote to family.

“I’d rather spend my time with my 14-month-old son than walking precincts,” Sheahan said Wednesday morning.

Cronin, also an Elmhurst Republican, will appoint a replacement to the District 4 seat later this week. Cronin is likely to employ a similar measure to select Sheahan’s replacement, although the details have yet to be worked out, said Johnna Kelly, a spokesperson for the County Board. Kelly said Cronin would make a decision soon on the method he would employ. The County Board chairman has the authority to nominate appointees to fill unexpired terms.

When Olson announced her resignation from the board, Cronin accepted applications from District 4 Republicans interested in the temporary assignment. By statute a candidate appointed to the board to finish a previous board member’s term must be a member of the same political party as the outgoing member. Olson is a Republican.

Sheahan did not rule out a return to electoral politics, but said any decision would be years away.