A longtime member of the Sangamon County Board is retiring. George Preckwinkle is leaving after serving District 25 for 17 years.
Preckwinkle served as Chair of the Finance Committee and as a member of the Jail, OEM/911, and Rural Transportation Committees.
Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter thanked Preckwinkle for his service, saying, “George’s leadership and business acumen have left an indelible mark on Sangamon County. His dedication to fiscal responsibility and effective governance has set a high standard. During George’s tenure on the board, I don’t think we’ve spent a single dime that he didn’t check each side of the coin. We will miss his valuable contributions, and filling his shoes will be a challenging task. On behalf of the County Board, I extend our sincere appreciation for his years of service and wish him the very best.
Reflecting on his time in office, Preckwinkle said, “Serving the people of District 25 has been an honor, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to the constituents for their support. I am also grateful to my colleagues for their fiscally responsible approach to government, which has been crucial in ensuring the future financial stability of Sangamon County.” Preckwinkle remains the President of Ace Hardware, overseeing operations of a company employing about 250 people throughout Central Illinois.
The Sangamon County Board Office has begun accepting applications to fill the vacancy. The application period will close on February 2nd. The vacancy will be filled by appointment at the February 13th County Board meeting.