Candidate backing by union untenable

The list of credible candidates for district 204 school board just got shorter. Doug DiFusco, Eric Hepburn, Jerry Huang and Don Moscato recently went and sought and received the endorsement of the IPEA and IPCA.

What are the IPEA and IPCA? They are the very union organizations with which Indian Prairie School District 204 is currently in negotiations.

The four are now running as a slate saying they are "the voice of the people." Yeah, right. School board candidates seeking the endorsement and/or financial contributions by school district unions, and any other special interest group, has the potential of influencing, creating bias and/or the appearance of bias in future decisions made by school board members. Seeking the endorsement of the very unions with whom you will later have to vote on contracts and benefits is preposterous. For all intents and purposes, these four candidates are the union. In fact, the wife of Doug DiFusco belongs to the union itself, and was on the union's leadership board. Do you want the same union mentality which bankrupted the American auto industry controlling your schools and raising your taxes? In order to fairly represent the taxpayers in school board decision-making processes, the best and ultimate endorsement occurs at the voting booth - the endorsement of the community. These four candidates have disqualified themselves.

Jill Smith

Aurora