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'Clean Slate' hasn't met its promises

Kathy Hamilton and her so-called "Clean Slate" cohorts Deanne Mazzochi, Frank Napolitano and Charles Bernstein took over the College of DuPage Board of Trustees with promises to clean house and instill fiscal responsibility. They have done exactly the opposite.

The triggering event for this destructive quartet was the alleged "golden parachute" approved by the previous COD board to buy out former President Breuder's employment contract. While the buyout figure was indeed high it was still a bargain for the college as it represented 50 percent of what he was entitled to under his contract.

At the time this Clean Slate group was elected COD was considered one of the standouts among community colleges, not just in the state but in the nation. Thanks to Ms. Hamilton and her cronies, COD is now facing $1.3 million in legal fees over the legally shaky unilateral termination of Mr. Breuder's contract and defense of lawsuits incurred by his and others' firings. This is almost double the amount that COD was going to pay Mr. Beurder in the first place.

Ms. Hamilton sure has a funny way of saving taxpayer money. Also, her risky decisions based upon personal vendettas, secretive backroom deals, ethically questionable campaign tactics and unsound legal reasoning may also cost COD its accreditation. With friends like Kathy Hamilton, COD doesn't need enemies.

Thanks to the straightforward, careful, civic-minded service of COD Trustees like Dianne McGuire, there is still hope for COD. Let's just hope voters remember this fiasco next election.

Jennifer Barron

Naperville

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