Goodson Resigning from Will County Board for Healthcare Job

Will County Board member Lee Ann Goodson is stepping down after being hired as the new director of community and government relations for Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare.

Goodson, who will take on the new role starting April 9, represents District 5 on the county board, encompassing sections of Plainfield and Wheatland Township. 

She will take over for Sandy Benson, who is retiring April 11 after nearly 25 years with the health system, according to a press release issued Thursday by Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare.

On Friday, Goodson said she has known Benson since 2004, when Edward began efforts to build a Plainfield hospital.

"She has become very much a part of the Plainfield community," Goodson said.

Benson plans to continue as an active Rotarian and president of the Naperville Library Board of Trustees, and maintain her involvement in numerous other community volunteer activities, according to the release.

Goodson, a Plainfield resident who was first elected to the county board in 2002, served as Will County Legislative Coordinator for State Rep. Tom Cross from 2004 to 2013. 

When she takes over her new position with Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare, Goodson will also resign her posts as county government coordinator for House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Commissioner of the  Forest Preserve District of Will County, the press release said.

The Republican party will also have to find a replacement for Goodson on the November election ballot.

"I'm really excited," Goodson said Friday. "I know I am going to miss working with Representative Durkin and I'm going to miss being on the county board. I really loved it."

But Goodson said she'll continue to work in the area, focusing on Edward's service area of Naperville, Plainfield, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Lisle, Oswego, Romeoville, Warrenville, Woodridge and Yorkville.

Editor's note: Updated with comments from Goodson.