Chamber urges return of authority to Winnebago County Board chairman

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce is joining a chorus of voices calling for the restoration of powers to the Winnebago County Board Chairman.

Between 2017 and 2019, the Winnebago County Board voted to strip powers from then-Chairman Frank Haney to “deal with specific situations.”

One of the issues, at the time, was reports that Haney had harassed a former county administrator.

In his lawsuit, Haney argued that he was essentially terminated mid-term, without voter approval. Seven ordinances were passed that either eliminated or changed the chairman’s duties.

Haney was voted out in 2020, but the power to the Chairman was never restored.

Joe Chiarelli was elected in 2020 and currently serves as Winnebago County Board Chairman, having won re-election in 2024.

Last month, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and Loves Park Mayor Greg Jury called for the restoration of powers to the position.

“We look at it from the Chamber’s standpoint of, what can we do to help in terms of promoting Winnebago County, promoting the businesses that are here in Winnebago County to expand, or possibly businesses that are outside to relocate here to the county,” said Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce Vice Chair Connor Brown. “We see the Winnebago County Chairman as the chief negotiator in terms of economic development work, and what goes on around the county.”