Electing Warrenville fire trustees a mistake

Electing Warrenville fire trustees a mistake

Electing, instead of appointing, the fire board sounds like a patriotic, democratic thing Warrenville voters are being urged to do by their present fire board. I thought the same thing when I initiated that process here in Winfield, but I hadn't checked the history of other fire districts.

Sadly, instead of voters having a choice, it is rare that voters are ever presented with one. Usually only the incumbents file to run. Challenges are rare.

In the 13 DuPage County fire districts "electing" trustees in the coming election, there are contested seats in only three, and one of those is not really contested. Voters in half the fire districts have not been offered even a theoretical choice in the past decade.

Elected fire boards become entrenched fire boards, and that is the reason the Warrenville firefolk are for it.

They want the security of six-year terms with only unlikely competition, instead of three-year terms where they are subject to review by the appointing authority every three years.

I wish I had realized that when I led the drive to make ours elected, and I hope the voters of Warrenville learn from my mistake.

Stan Zegel

Winfield