Feeling left out

I chose to watch the Super Bowl and now I am feeling left out. It’s not because my Bears didn’t make it in or because the Packers won.  I could have spent Super Bowl Sunday trying to sit in on and observe the meeting to determine Christine Johnson’s replacement as DeKalb County Treasurer. My choice. My loss.

I voted for Christine Johnson in every race for DeKalb County Treasurer she’s ever been involved in. In most of those elections she didn’t have an opponent. She’s one of the Untouchable Republicans of DeKalb County along with Roger Scott, Dennis Miller, Sharon Holmes (retired) and Maureen Josh. The fact is she’s done a pretty darn good job in her 17 years as treasurer.

She’ll make a good state senator, too.

But I’m not a Republican. According to the rules then I have no part in the process of selecting a replacement. Neither does any other non-Republican.  The DeKalb County Republican Party decides that. The precinct committeemen spent part of their Super Bowl Sunday huddled together to screen the field of candidates. They’ll make a recommendation to Larry Anderson (R), chair of the DeKalb County Board who will then make a recommendation to the full County Board.

According to the Daily Chronicle the field of candidates include Eric Johnson, Jea Nae Remala, Joseph Simons II and Mark Todd. Johnson was recently appointed DeKalb Township Supervisor to replace the late Pat Lavigne. Ramala is very involved in community service as executive director of the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District of Kiwanis International, and has an educational background in accounting. Simons was a regional marketing director with Andersen Windows and lost a primary race to John Acardo, who then defeated Jim Luebke, for DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder. He is the son of Mary Simons who is chair of the DeKalb County Republicans. Todd currently serves on the DeKalb County Board and has strong professional experience in finance/banking.

Whoever is selected will need to be retained in the 2012 elections to run for re-election in 2014.

Christine Johnson becomes 35th District Illinois Senator on Valentine’s Day. She replaces J. Bradley Burzynski who is retiring after 20 outstanding years in the Illinois General Assembly. The singing Senator seeks to spend more time with his grandchildren. Well done.

Johnson takes office at a critical time. Illinois is borrowing to make payroll and pension payments. Confidence in state government is at an all time low by voters and debt bond buyers alike. She has the tools for the job and her career as DeKalb County Treasurer illustrates her commitment to public service. The county will benefit from Johnson’s tenure as state senator.

But the process for selecting Johnson’s replacement as DeKalb County Treasurer is flawed. There’s good argument against partisan politics in local government and county is local. But it is what it is. Still, according to the DeKalb County Republican’s website, there are 34 precinct committeemen in their party. That’s out of 85 precincts. And then they hold the selection screening meeting on Super Bowl Sunday. I wonder if that encouraged participation or if it enhanced exclusivity. Participative politics might fill those precincts.

The executive committee of the DeKalb County Board meets Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 7pm at the Administration Building, (conference room east, south entrance), 110 E. Sycamore St.,  in Sycamore. Larry Anderson may announce the recommendation at that meeting. The full county board must approve the candidate and could vote on the matter at its Feb. 16 regular meeting.