Random Pre-Election thoughts

I am not voting for a single incumbent on Tuesday, April 5th. I am one of those angry voters fed up with the lack of accountability that led to local government yearly spending increases that were twice or more higher than their annual revenue increases. More specifically, I’m sick of monster truck fiascoes, hiring independent contractors in closed sessions, non-public-bid contracts with an alderman, appointed boards that elected officials who appoint them have no power over (or desire) to correct their actions, fake rinks, tax and fee increases and borrowing money to lay people off… and the Mea Culpa response.

Said Bertrand Simpson at the Egyptian Theatre:

“Its not that we planned poorly or had poor plans — its just that the real world got in the way of our plans.” (see video)

I’m tired of the culture that allowed so many promises to be broken so quickly on the historic $110 million referendum. None are left unbroken and the high school hasn’t even opened. How important is a promise, to you, from someone asking for your vote? There’s a lot of people receiving or counting on a state pension who should think about that question. At least one sitting school board member should consider the importance of keeping promises if he was really serious about trying to pass an operational referendum.

When I review back since the last Consolidated Election there is nothing to fear about change.

I live in the 3rd Ward in DeKalb. If Pam Verbic would have run for re-election I may have had to break my rule about not voting for incumbents because I probably would have voted for her. Technically, she was appointed and that was after most of the above described disasters took place. She’s done a nice job of not going with the flow if the answers to her questions don’t jive.

It could be argued that the two candidates seeking to replace her are the hardest working campaigners out there. Not a day goes by that both of them aren’t personally knocking doors in their ward.

I watched Kristen Lash and soon learned she was a hard worker when she ran her husband’s (Jared) campaign for 6th ward alderman in the 2009 elections.  She was an effective foot soldier for Kris Povlsen’s mayoral campaign and is listed as Communications Chair on the executive board of the DeKalb County Democrats. She has been attending city council meetings for several years and is always taking notes.

I’ve seen Paulette Sherman involved and in action before, too. As a board member she insisted on making sure the inconvenient truth that it cost more to house our local jail population in our jail than to send them to out-of-county facilities was made public. She testified in depositions and on the witness stand as a citizen for Stop The Mega-Dump. She was a foot soldier in Clay Campbell’s campaign in the last election.

Sherman made one of the eye popping statements of the campaign when she said that before she’d vote for a single cut in first responder staff there wouldn’t be an assistant city manager left. Sounds like she’s got her priorities in order. If I was an assistant city manager I think I’d go find some cuts or pay for my own subscriptions. 🙂

The Eye Popping Statement came from Bertrand Simpson, First Ward Alderman. Simpson thinks the problem with DeKalb city hall is the city manager form of government. He made sure to state that his opinion was not a reflection on the current city manager.

I’ve long felt that Home Rule and the City Manager form of government is a bad combination.

The Sad But True statement came from Simpson’s challenger, David Jacobson. It was a near tear jerker for me. When asked why he felt he was qualified to address the financial woes facing the city he said that his was the generation being told there would be no pensions or big raises for them so they were all learning how to do more with less.

The two minute video above is a nice little break from all the politics. NOT. Gracie and I left the Egyptian Theatre Candidate Forum and made it to The House Cafe in time catch a fabulous show of Beatles tribute put on by talented local musicians just for fun. I’ll unashamedly use the faces in this video to illustrate 5th Ward challenger, Rob Fischer’s, suggestion on the north 5th Ward neighborhood commonly known as John Street/College Avenue. That’s because several of the faces in the video live in and around that neighborhood.

He’d like to explore the possibility of addressing that neighborhood’s perceived deterioration through diversifying the zoning to allow boutiques, art studios, music stores, etc. He thinks it can be done without using government subsidy, like TIF, by allowing the market to open and flourish into a tourism destination. Its rather refreshing to hear of a plan that embraces NIU’s tradition, and its resources, instead of zoning them out.

There’s no incumbent running in the 7th Ward either. We know that Monica O’Leary is running. She’s been to the candidate forums. She’s got the coolest looking signs. Before Eric Calmeyer became a candidate for the 7th Ward I saw him regularly attending city council meetings. Since he became a candidate I haven’t seen him anywhere but that race could be a 100 yd sprint to 60 votes.

We need to fix that, too.

I have witnessed extreme conservatism this election cycle. We attended the Kirkland Candidates Forum at the still new Fire Department on the outskirts of town. John Pierce, candidate for Village Trustee, thinks $45,000 a year in administrative salaries is too much. That figure includes at least three part-to-full time employees. I’m known to be fiscally conservative on administration costs but, John, even I have to wince on that one. If you are a candidate for any race anywhere, or thinking about it, see how well you’d do with these tough questions, here and here.

Cortland candidates got some tough questions, too. Voters there have a referendum question to decide as the town board is asking for a 1-cent local sales tax. If approved the sales tax increase is projected to generate between $150,000-$180,000 annually.

Here’s the official ballot question: Shall the corporate authorities of the municipality be authorized to levy a tax at a rate of 1% for expenditures on municipal operations, expenditures on public infrastructure, or property tax relief? Quick poll: If passed, how much of the new tax will be used for A) municipal operations B) public infrastructure or C) property tax relief. You may choose up to three answers but you may not laugh.

In the First Ward Alderman race in Sycamore, Earl Gable is running against Gary Waight for the seat being vacated by Richard Neubauer. Second Ward Alderman Chuck Stowe is facing a challenge from Anthony Cvek. Those are the only contested races in Sycamore. No candidate forum was held.

If DeKalb County is going to beat the low voter turnout projected for the state (17%) it could well be because there are eleven candidates running for the District 428 of DeKalb, Cortland and Malta School Board.

For those who would accuse me of beating a dead horse I can only say that I am trying to resuscitate it. The result of low voter turnout is what we’ve got. We need to fix that. Vote and remind others to do so.