Rakow gets support of former chief

Let me start out by saying I no longer live in the area, but I believe I can speak to the recent situation in East Dundee.

Chief Mark Rakow was unceremoniously removed from the position of fire chief by someone who should be considered a peer but who actually is far from it. Mark's peers were the gentlemen who arrived for his last day on the job.

Mark Rakow is a man on unquestioned integrity. I have known Mark for all of my time in the fire service (31 years) and I can say he is someone that I looked to as a model person. I certainly am not telling a new story, or one that just about everyone, save two, in East Dundee doesn't already know. Mark and his family have served the Village of East Dundee for a very long time and I know that most of the village appreciates that work.

I am reminded of a quote by Abraham Lincoln that I hope the citizens of East Dundee remember as it applies to the fire district board. Lincoln said "If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you can fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."

For the East Dundee Fire Board perhaps you should remember what Dwight Eisenhower said about leadership, "You do not lead people by hitting them over the head - that is assault, not leadership."

Chief Rakow, thank you for your integrity and your many years of public service. I know you can hold your head high for the job you have done.

Steve Guetschow

Former chief

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District

Palmetto, Fla.