Herald missed point in fire board vote
I am disappointed that the Daily Herald recommended a "no" vote on the referendum to elect the trustees of the Warrenville Fire Protection District. I believe that the Herald's reasons miss the point.
The referendum is not about consolidation. It is about who gets to decide the issue of consolidation and other issues that affect the WFPD.
Should the board of trustees be picked by the residents and taxpayers who live in the district, pay taxes, and depend on the services of the WFPD? Or should one person, the county board chairman, who doesn't even live in the district, make these decisions?
Contrary to what the DH article said, nothing about an elected board prevents the district from consolidating. If the voters in the WFPD think that consolidation is the right thing to do, when they have elected trustees, they can make vote for candidates who support consolidation. With appointed trustees, residents and taxpayers have no say at all on this issue. The county board chairman will decide and let them know, whether they like it or not.
It is unfortunate that the Herald took Mr. Cronin's criticisms of the WFPD at face value. Worse, the Herald ignored the fact that all of these criticisms are leveled at an appointed board, one that Mr. Cronin himself appointed. If these criticisms are true, how are they corrected by continuing to appoint trustees? Isn't this an argument for change, i.e. electing the board instead of appointing it?
I urge everyone to vote yes for elected fire trustees on April 7.
Kate Perkins
Chairman, Elect Your Fire Trustees
Warrenville