Maine Twp. Dems: We'll be back

The Maine Township Democratic candidates offer congratulations to the Republican incumbents upon their re-election.

Although we did not win any offices April 7, we are proud of our showing. We came forward owing no political favors or debts. We are active community representatives who are attorneys, teachers, librarians, Boy Scout leaders and business people who only wish to improve township services for our taxpayers' dollars.

Our active campaigning door-to-door prompted the incumbents, who have easily passed on their succession for 140 years in Maine Township, to go out into the precincts and talk to constituents.

Our suggestions hopefully will continue to result in some other positive changes for our residents as well:

Our residents will examine carefully the three line items on their tax bill that they pay to Maine Township. They will question when the amounts they pay increase 5 percent a year without an increase in services.

There will be more activities planned for lower income seniors rather than the expensive and elite trips offered through Maine Streamers;

Township officials will start applying for grants in the areas of adults and youth-at-risk, to provide more services to those residents in need without additional expense to the taxpayers;

The Township office will serve more fully as an information hub, with resources for adults who are out of work;

The online Agency Directory will be amended to include the offices and resources of Democratic officials including state Sens. Dan Kotowski and Susan Garrett, state Rep. Elaine Nekritz and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.

Township residents will question the contracts are awarded to campaign contributors without bid;

The language used in official Township board meetings will be respectful to all groups of residents.

The run of the Maine Township Democrats, under the dedicated guidance of Committeewoman Laura Murphy, has demonstrated that even though we received very limited press, we reached 9,000 plus voters out there who have started to pay attention.

They and others who now have a greater awareness of these issues will demand accountability and augmented services from the township. We are all here to stay.

Pete Ryan, Jim Wozny, Pat Lofthouse, Carmen Valerio, Suzanne Henn, Jim Rademacher, Maren Ronan, Gail Vierneisel