Executive Committee: Speaker VanDuyne and Member Butler Clash Over Removal of Committee Chair

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | January 8, 2026

Article Summary: A heated exchange erupted during the January 8 Executive Committee meeting when Member Daniel Butler challenged Speaker Joe VanDuyne’s authority to remove Member Destinee Ortiz from her committee chair position. VanDuyne maintained that as Speaker, he holds the sole authority to appoint and remove chairs.

Leadership Dispute Key Points:

• Point of Order: Member Daniel Butler argued the removal of Member Destinee Ortiz was an “abuse of power” and lacked sufficient cause.

• Speaker’s Defense: Speaker Joe VanDuyne asserted his right to appoint and remove committee chairs without public explanation.

• Procedural Standoff: Butler attempted to appeal the ruling, but VanDuyne cited Robert’s Rules of Order to end the discussion.

• Context: The dispute centered on alleged infractions regarding parliamentary procedure during a prior meeting.

JOLIET, Ill. — Tensions flared at the Will County Board Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, January 8, 2026, as Member Daniel Butler (R-Frankfort) formally challenged Speaker Joe VanDuyne (D-Wilmington) over the recent removal of Member Destinee Ortiz (D-Romeoville) from a committee chair position.

Raising a point of order immediately after public comment, Butler argued that Ortiz was removed improperly following a procedural dispute in a previous meeting. Butler contended that while Ortiz may have been disruptive, the proper disciplinary action would have been removal from the floor at that time, not stripping her of her chairmanship later.

“I feel that it is an abuse of power to remove her from her committee chair,” Butler said. “That infraction didn’t even happen in her committee.”

Speaker VanDuyne firmly rejected Butler’s premise, stating he would not discuss the specific reasons for the removal in a public forum.

“As Speaker of the Board, I am the one who appoints the chairs of all the committees, and it is my opinion that I am the one who can remove anyone from any chair of any committee,” VanDuyne declared.

When Butler attempted to appeal the ruling, VanDuyne stated that where county rules are silent, Robert’s Rules of Order prevail, supporting his authority. He advised Butler that any further challenge would need to be pursued through different avenues, potentially a special meeting, rather than during the Executive Committee.

“Good luck to you, sir,” VanDuyne told Butler, effectively ending the debate.