Polly Berg
1928-2005
Leader, Activist, Environmentalist,
LWVGR Natural Resources Chair

Register Star Editorial • Rembrances of Polly • Send your memory

Photo: Rockford Register Star

By PAT MILHIZER, Rockford Register Star
Published: February 7, 2005
Link to story

ROCKFORD -- Whether it was a concern about the city's northwest side, activists lobbying for a cleaner environment or a Republican trying to find out where Democrats stood on issues before the Winnebago County Board, Polly Berg always offered an open ear.

"She had people all over the city who would call her for help. They weren't calling their own County Board members. They weren't calling their aldermen. They called her, and she would help every one of them. She never said no," said Theresa Knauf, one of Berg's seven children.

Berg, a Democratic County Board member who was active in local politics since the 1970s, died unexpectedly Saturday in her Garfield Avenue home. She might have suffered a heart attack.

Besides providing a voice for Rockford's northwest side in her 12 years on the board, Berg, 76, promoted environmental issues more than any other board member.

As a candidate for office in 1988, she requested that the county start recycling all the used paper in the courthouse and administration building. She helped lead efforts to nix leaf burning in unincorporated parts of the county, an issue that lingered for years until the board banned it in 2003.

As recently as last month, her nature campaign continued when she asked the county to study using a geothermal system as a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to heat and cool the new jail, which is expected to open in 2007.

Berg also received attention in 1998 when she called on local governments to clean up a clogged ditch that was blamed for flooding in a 9-square-block area near Auburn High School.

"She was a voice where sometimes there wasn't a voice," said Harlem Township Supervisor Doug Aurand, a Democratic stalwart who served with Berg as a board member and as county treasurer.

"She was certainly an advocate for her district and, more importantly, minority and women's rights," Aurand said. "I'll remember her as one of the first women to really get involved in politics in this area."

First woman

Berg was the first female appointed to the Winnebago County Zoning Board of Appeals in 1983, when the committee that advises the County Board on zoning issues was 40 years old.

But her venture into the male-dominated world of local politics started several years before that.

Berg unsuccessfully ran for Rockford alderman in the 3rd Ward in 1975 and 1977, and a newspaper article about the 1975 race said she was "running one of the most vigorous aldermanic campaigns of the winter with an army of workers combing the ward."

Some of that included deploying her daughter's Brownie troop to pass out campaign literature door to door.

"Back then, nobody had money to do mailings," daughter, Kathy Berg, recalled.

Berg was known for helping many Democrats with their campaigns and served as a mayoral aide for former Mayor Robert McGaw and as a legislative and media aide for former state Sen. Joyce Holmberg.

She also kept busy with the Northwest Community Center, Rockford YWCA, Rockford YouthBuild, the League of Women Voters and Catholic Charities Auxiliary.

Berg first was elected to the County Board in 1990, a year before her husband, Gerald, a Rockford Fire Department captain, suffered a fatal heart attack.

After winning re-election to her 7th District County Board seat last November, Berg was a bit miffed when Democrats voted to strip her title as Democratic caucus chairwoman, the second-in-command symbolic leader of the nine Democrats.

Berg relished the role, once chastising this reporter for not including the title next to her name in a newspaper story. She blamed the loss of the chairmanship on her willingness to work with Republicans.

"You have to play both sides of the fence to get anything done," Berg lamented while leaving the County Board chambers last year.

West High School alum
Majority Leader Tim Simms responded last month by suggesting that Berg jump ship and join the GOP. The suggestion came in an unrelated instance in which new Democratic Caucus Chairman Phil Johnson formally offered Republican board member Mary Ann Aiello an opportunity to join the Democrats.

"We'll take Polly," Simms leaned back and shouted from his seat Jan. 27, Berg's last meeting. But she declined Simms' proposal.

"I always teased her and said you got to come over the party line," said County Board member Chris Johnson, R-4. "She was never mean, never tried to cut you off, never did the cursing exit. That in of itself, is pretty unique."

Berg was born in Champaign and moved to Rockford in 1940. She graduated from West High School in 1945 and attended the University of Illinois and Rockford College.

A former newspaper reporter and freelance writer, Berg had her fair share of quirks.

She occasionally referred to herself in the third person when speaking about her stance on an issue. When she had news tips or story ideas, she liked to call a select group of reporters and leave a message that "Mrs. Blake" had called.

"That was just her little fun way of just enjoying the game of it all," daughter Theresa said. "The voice of the west side is going to become quieter now that she's not with us. The west side needs somebody to step up to the plate and replace her voice."

Minority Leader Jim Hughes said he will miss his right hand on the County Board.

"Polly was a one-person show," Hughes said. "That lady will never be replaced. You can't replace somebody like that and wouldn't want to."

Contact: pmilhizer@registerstartower.com; 815-987-1345