Vote February 2nd

The February 2nd primary is quickly approaching.  It's important that you get out an vote Democratic.  You can check the Locagtion of Your Polling Place on the DuPage Election Commission site. 

Herald ignores lack of reform in DuPage

From 12/20 Daily Herald: The Dec. 12 Daily Herald editorial on a "to-do list" seems, once again, seems to be the same partisan attacks we are used to seeing from this paper. For some time, the Daily Herald has ignored (they must know what's going on) the lack of reform right here in River City, I mean DuPage.

In DuPage County, under the one party rule, there has been only one attempt, by Deb Olson, to change campaign finance. There are no limits on how much a candidate may raise and no limits on spending. Oddly, two of the candidates for county chairman, state Senators Dan Cronin and Carole Pankau, voted against the law recently signed by Gov. Pat Quinn that establishes limits. I assume their argument will be, "It wasn't enough."

However, neither of them has joined Olson to propose "voluntary" limits on campaign spending. Why? Olson's proposal, while not perfect, is a start. Add provisions that limits what individuals may give their own campaigns, limit total spending, and we would have a better plan. The Herald has ignored arguing for DuPage County that which it argues for Illinois. There are no term limits, no caps on campaign contributions, no "independent" commission free of political influence and no budget solutions except to raise taxes.

Recall Bob Schillerstrom's move to raise our sales tax to plug the $40 million deficit. And now we have $19 million suddenly missing from the water commission's wallet and a request for $60 million more. The Herald needs to be "fair and slightly balanced" by calling on the Republican leaders and candidates to practice what they preach. Let's call for all candidates, Democrat and Republicans, to voluntarily agree to campaign limits. And, if they don't, they shouldn't get the endorsement of the same newspaper that argues for this type of reform.

Bob Peickert

Chairman, Democratic Party of DuPage County

The Lisle Township Food bank is serving record numbers of families

The Lisle Township Food bank is serving record numbers of families in Lisle Township. In November 179 families picked up food from the monthly food program.

The township also has a program where you can sponsor a family and buy them X-Mas gifts. There is also a record number of families participating in this program. There are 23 out of 85 families that have not been sponsored.  Please get the word out to other township Dems to see if they can help to sponsor a family. The person to contact is Jim Vondran at 630-234-7102. Jim is the food bank director and he will provide the info about the families and their wishes for Christmas. The wrapped gifts can be dropped off at the food bank by the sponsor.

Herald: Outraged? People should be!

We wanted to share this editorial from the Daily Herald:

Step aside until investigation is over
Daily Herald
Published: 12/13/2009 12:24 AM

The DuPage Water Commission lost $19 million and its managers want you to foot the bill to clean up their mess.

It's not clear what happened. Forensic auditors are crunching numbers and pricey lawyers are investigating. Meanwhile, water rates likely will be increasing.

Outraged? People should be.

This $19 million didn't disappear overnight. We're told the money set aside for emergency repairs depleted slowly, tapped because the water commission charges less than what they pay the city of Chicago for Lake Michigan water. Money has been moving out of the fund set up to finance repairs into the general operating fund, leaving too few dollars to pay $53 million in debt.

Now the water commission wants to borrow $60 million to pay bills and rebuild reserves. Water rates reportedly could jump 42 percent.

Who's to blame for water commission mess?

This is a pretty serious issue that we wanted to share. 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=341582