According to the pay to play system of government as it has evolved here in Illinois — as so far defended by the courts — voters must vote out those elected county board members that supported the Mega-Dump unless, of course, they supported it. So, in the event that the Appellate Courts decision is final, Tuesday, Nov. 6th is the last day for voters to take appropriate action.
That creates a dilemma for loyal Democrats and loyal Republicans. Especially those straight party ballot voters. Here’s a helpful guide for following court “orders” and voting out the landfill varmints.
Independent voters like me have an easier time. I live in District 9. I am bullet voting for Sam Bandy. A bullet vote is when you vote for only one candidate when you are asked to vote for more than one. Not voting for a second candidate is the same as taking away a vote for the other candidates. I posted my intention on my Facebook page and almost immediately was engaged in private chats with members of both political parties. What to do if it’s just not in your DNA to vote for someone in the other party? A bipartisan solution for growing the spirit of good government was reached. Undervote. Just don’t vote for a Mega-Dump supporter. If the loss of your vote costs them their seat on the board, well, they deserved it. If not then a high number of undervotes in their district sends them a clear message of disapproval of their support of the Mega-Dump.
Here are the scorecards.
District 2 – John Emerson (R) voted for the Mega-Dump. Russell Deverell (R) unseated Michael Haines, a Mega-Dump supporter. James Hanson (D) is a new challenger.
District 3 – Riley Oncken (R) voted for the Mega-Dump. Kenneth Andersen (R) withdrew his support for the Mega-Dump after listening to his constituents’ concerns. Mark Pietrowski (D) attended the landfill siting application public hearing unsure of the landfill expansion plans and after witnessing the testimony from Waste Management’s paid experts, and listening to the voters as he canvassed from door-to-door, opposed the Mega-Dump and joined STMD.
District 4 – Anita Jo Turner (D) voted for the Mega-Dump. Joseph Bassett (D) and Anthony Cvek (R), if elected, are newcomers to the DeKalb County Board. They are sorely needed.
District 9 – Julia Fauci (D) and Paul Stoddard (D) voted for the Mega-Dump. Samuel-Louis Bandy, Jr. (R) is the lone challenger with previous experience on the county board.
District 12 – Jeffery Metzger (R) voted for the Mega-Dump. John Frieders (R) was the top vote getter in the primary election that unseated Mega-Dump supporter Marlene Allen. Sarah Greer (D) is a new challenger and fresh face for a seat on the board.
Ruth Anne Tobias (D) in District 6 and Sally DeFauw (D) in District 7 both supported the Mega-Dump but they are in uncontested races. Uncontested races are excellent ballot questions to practice how to undervote. And it sends a message of disapproval of the landfill expansion.
Four incumbents deserve very special mention. Ken Andersen (R) District 3, Scott Newport (R) District 8, Derek Tyson (D) District 5 and John Gudmunson (R) District 11 all voted against the landfill expansion. Put a mark next to their names if they appear on your ballot.
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4 Comments
Mark, if you dig around the brief you are talking about, provided on Richard Schmack’s website, are the words of John Farrell. The sworn testimony of Campbell during the interrogatories after he was elected were as supportive as possible. We knew once he was elected he had a legal obligation to the county board. He lent a hand during the public hearing. If Campbell played politics as a candidate, and he did, so has Schmack with this issue. I was going to undervote until reading letters from the DeKalb County Old Boys Network. I want nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the perpetuation of that network. That is the very network that brought us this Mega-Dump.
you support Campbell on your personal Faceebook page but on your fb dekalb county page you voted for Schmack as STMD. No mention of him or Schmack here. What gives?
I voted for Campbell in our poll. There are several administrators on the STMD facebook page and one of those voted for Schmack. Our choices are ours to make. Neither of the two (Campbell and Schmack) voted on the landfill expansion application and that’s why I didn’t mention them.
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If you are happy that the Mega dump is going to be a reality, you can partially thank Clay Campbell who is running for re-election as State’s Attourney. You will recall that Mr Campbell, in the last election cycle, opposed the landfill expansion. Now, based on briefs he filed on behalf of the County in court, he mocked the efforts of the stop the megadump group. Mr Campbell, you have let us down. This seals the deal. I am now officially voting for Mr Schmack on Tuesday. If you oppose the Mega-dump, you should not support “Benedict Campbell”, too. I supported Clay in 2010 and now regret my vote. Just as the court said: “elected members can be turned out of office”. Let’s do it for Mr Campbell, too!