Another concern has been traffic. I worked at Great Lakes Naval Base for 7 years and I can remember more times than I care to sitting in backed up traffic on Route 176 and I only traveled a 1/4 mile from my home. Many of you have asked why we don’t have east-west train lines or why Route 53 hasn’t been extended. Those are questions I have asked over the years and I’m determined to get answers for you. We certainly put enough money into the Metra System that one would think these questions would have been thrown into the mix. One suggestion has been to widen roads like Rt. 176. A problem with this suggestion is that poor planning in the past has left it so there is no set backs of homes and businesses. While there are spots we could widen the road, in between communities for instance, bottle necks will be created in local communities that have built right up to the road make it impossible to widen the road. Add to that the continued building of housing subdivisions adding more roads and I think you begin to see how the problem will continue. There is an answer; we just need to continue to try to find it.

Sunday, May 18
9:00 to 10:30am
Robert Crown Elementary School
620 Bonner Rd
Wauconda

Please join me with State Senate candidate Bill Gentes as we help clean the Wauconda Township Democrats’ adopted highway.

Speaking of budgets, the Village started the budget process approximately $250,000.00 short of what was on the Department Heads wish lists. This year we were able to reign in those wishes to balance the budget. Next year we are looking at a possible $450K deficit. Being a small Village without home rule powers we are pretty much constrained as to where revenue comes in from. We have property taxes, which will likely go down since overall value of homes has dropped this past year. We can increase the total revenue from property taxes by building more rooftops, but that brings increased traffic, increased student population, increased pressure on local services. Some think that impact fees will cover the cost, but that is only a one time temporary solution to what is surely a long term problem. Extra rooftops will certainly attract more business which brings in more sales taxes dollars. As Chair of the Economic Development Committee, I’m trying to bring in more business to the Village. In that effort I will be attending meetings for a newly formed Route 176 Corridor Group to determine how best to bring in more business on Route 176 between Island Lake and Crystal Lake. More business means more retail & property tax revenue and it means more jobs. It also means shorter distances to travel to purchase the services and goods we need, which means we will spend less on gas for the car. The deficit will most certainly have to be worked on during the coming year. As a Board we will have to work hard to bring in more revenue from sources other than property taxes. Not an easy task, but I certainly didn’t get into this because it was easy.  

As many of you, I am especially concerned that the price of gas will rise to over $4.00/gal. I share that concern, especially since I’m a Village Trustee. I Chair the Police & Safety Committee and the Village Board just finished the budget process. Fortunately we were able to balance the budget this year. A big concern of mine was whether we had budgeted enough for gasoline for the Police Department. When we began the budget process last February gas was around $3.35/gal. Now it is $3.89/gal and rising. It’s tough enough making ends meet with a family, but try to meet the needs of a police department gas usage. We will certainly do what we have to, but like you we’re keeping a close eye on that price hoping it doesn’t go any higher.

One issue of concern that I have encountered at the door has been corruption in government. It seems corruption is running rampant everywhere. Public officials entrusted with our money are helping themselves to the public till and then trying to hide it. Others who were once in charge are trying to get back what they once had. The system is broke, and those in charge downstate are part of the problem. My opponent, who has been there since 1996, is part of broken system paralyzed by partisan politics where business as usual is filled with cronyism and corruption that doesn’t serve the people of Illinois nor our communities. I believe we need to change this system and that it starts with putting new people in charge. I have a history of fighting the good ole boy style of politics and I can be the change we so badly need.

I have to admit that it is a rather heady task I have laid before me running for State Rep. Having run many a campaign in the past all being local offices, running for State Rep, especially against an entrenched incumbent, would certainly be an uphill battle. Since announcing I have been very pleased with the outpouring of support I am getting. Many friends have called or e-mailed their intentions to help in any way needed with this campaign. It certainly warms my heart to know that so many believe in my abilities to represent them in Springfield. For that I am truly grateful.

But know that I cannot do this without your help, because this campaign is not about me. It is about changing our government so that we are better represented at all levels from the Federal to the local. We have all fought for better government for honest government, for a transparent government that represents all of our citizens from the poorest of us to the richest. It should not matter your position in life in determining the level of respect you receive. We need to ensure that our government returns to the values of helping those in need, providing for those less fortunate a way in which to provide for themselves. We need to make it so that the only barrier keeping us from reaching our goals is ourselves.

We need to work together to ensure that our children, our neighbors children, the children of those we do not know, are provided the best education possible. It is certainly much cheaper to spend our money on a good education than to spend it on numerous prisons, which would be the likely outcome if we don’t educate our children.

We need to work together to ensure a good infrastructure system throughout our communities. This means taking care of our roads, taking care of environment, taking care of water system, taking care of our water treatment system. All of these are vital to our health, welfare and safety.

As I said earlier, this campaign is not about me, it is about electing good people to government. By us working together we can become a force to help other qualified candidates run for public office. I’m asking you to join me in this endeavor to bring good representation to all levels of governing.

Senator Obama said it well when he stated “In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?”

I choose hope.

Will you join me?

If you said yes then go to my web site and sign up.

Volunteer, donate, send a letter to the editor and speak out. Let them know you are here and you will be heard. Let them know that you want a government that works to solve the problems we all face, not a government that caters to the few.

Together we can change the face of government. Together we can make this a better world to live. Together we can make it happen!