Munger would have independent voice

What an informative evening. I attended the Stevenson High School candidate forum on Sept. 23 and learned what a fantastic and smart candidate Springfield outsider and political newcomer Leslie Munger is. I was extremely impressed by her depth of knowledge of the issues, her extensive business experience and community leadership solving problems and getting thing done. Her common sense solutions to Illinois' dire financial problems were on target, and she indicated she would be a truly independent voice of the taxpayers compared with her incumbent opponent, who is funded by and votes with Speaker Madigan a great majority of the time.

Ms. Sente stated, "I want to be judged on my record." If that is the case, Ms. Sente's record includes voting for an unbalanced budget every year, raising the debt ceiling, raising numerous taxes, voting for Madigan for speaker, having a campaign office in the United Auto Workers Union headquarters while working for an architectural firm that has earned millions of dollars by earning contracts for building or renovating police and fire stations, park district facilities, and municipal/park district buildings while serving as state representative.

Importantly, she also earned endorsements and campaign contributions from police and firefighting groups. This is currently allowed by state law, but smacks of conflict of interest just like Madigan and his law firm that works to reduce property taxes even though he votes to raise them. In both cases, Madigan and Sente promised to serve the taxpayers of Illinois, but in turn enriched themselves.

Voters need to hold incumbents accountable for their action, not their words. Vote for change on Nov. 4.

Kim Korzen Neistat

Buffalo Grove