Birkett, Zaruba lobby for funding

The purpose of this letter is to set the record straight regarding your Oct. 18 editorial concerning the county budget.

In your comments you indicate that DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba and DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett have not been very vocal in the lobbying for the cigarette tax which would provide millions in public safety dollars. Approximately three or more weeks ago, I was in Springfield with John Zaruba and Joe Birkett and personally witnessed both of them personally approach and speak to several legislators in an effort to get support for the cigarette tax.

You see, these are two elected law enforcement officials who take their obligation to protect the people of DuPage County very seriously and care very much about all the people they have taken an oath to protect.

I witnessed both John Zaruba and Joe Birkett work tirelessly the entire day in Springfield in an attempt to get the needed funding for law enforcement in DuPage County. After reading your editorial, I just thought that it was important to bring this to your attention.

John C. Smith

West Chicago