DuPage forest board hopefuls focus on finance
A longtime incumbent and a West Chicago alderman are seeking the Republican nomination for a four-year DuPage Forest Preserve Commission seat in District 6 in the Feb. 2 primary.
Roger Kotecki of Warrenville, who has served on the forest preserve commission since 1990, is being challenged by West Chicago's Al Murphy. The winner will advance to the general election in November to face Democrat Shannon Burns, a 55-year-old West Chicago resident who owns Peaceful Hearts Therapies in Naperville. Burns is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
The district represents all or portions of West Chicago, Warrenville, Winfield, Wayne, Wheaton, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Aurora, Naperville and Roselle.
The Daily Herald recently asked the candidates in the contested Republican race several questions in advance of the primary. Some of their answers follow; for a look at all the answers from all three candidates, visit www.dailyherald.com later this month.
Q. What is your top campaign issue? Kotecki: To keep the focus of the district on the original tasks assigned to it by the Illinois Legislature: to preserve, protect, restore and restock the natural flora (plants) and fauna (animals) on the land for the recreation and education of the public. In these troubled economic times, it is as important as ever that people can reconnect with nature. We need its restorative properties and we should have access to it without spending a lot of time and money to reach it. We should remember and honor the investment that taxpayers have made in financing the acquisition of approximately 25,000 acres over the past 90-plus years. We should also remember our obligation to be good stewards of the open space and natural areas that contribute so much to our suburban quality of life so future generations also may enjoy them. Murphy: We need leadership for District 6. We need a leader who knows how to run government with a plan. We don't need a leader who one day votes one way and then a few weeks later votes another way.Q. What is your second-most important issue?Murphy: We need to treat the residents of the county as our stockholders. The residents are the owners of the forest preserves. We need to make sure they are getting the types of returns they expect for their hard-earned tax dollars. Kotecki: To help the district continue to act in a fiscally responsible manner. Besides being stewards of the land, commissioners are trustees of the people's money.The district is in sound financial condition now, enjoying a Triple AAA municipal bond rating and having solid reserves. It does not spend money it doesn't have. It has become more efficient. With sound financial planning and prudent management it can live within its means without going to the voters in a referendum or the legislature for new taxes during these tough economic times.Q. What is your third-most important campaign issue? Kotecki: To advocate for opportunities for people to get out on their land and enjoy it.The district currently operates more than 145 miles of multipurpose crushed stone or asphalt trails and many more miles of turf or dirt trails. Forest preserve surveys have shown the simple acts of walking and taking in the scenery are the most popular activities in the preserves. The multipurpose trails also serve runners, bicyclists and equestrians. Sections of the West Branch Regional Trail have been built alongside or parallel to the West Branch of the DuPage River. The district should continue, as funding allows, to build the remaining connecting sections so it extends from Hanover Park to Naperville. The district should also continue to provide the other fine recreation, nature education, cultural and historic facilities that also serve to connect people to their land and that people enjoy so much. Murphy: We need a business philosophy to run the forest preserve as a business, instead of a tax-and-spend government organization.False150113Al Murphy False <p class="factboxheadblack">Who's who</p><p class="breakhead">Roger Kotecki</p><p class="News">Age: 56</p><p class="News">Town: Warrenville</p><p class="News">Occupation: Attorney</p><p class="News">Education: Northern Illinois University; Harvard Law School</p><p class="News">Civic involvement: Advisory committee member of the Conservation Foundation; West Chicago Prairie steward; River Sweep volunteer</p><p class="News">Elected offices: DuPage County Board member, December 1990-November 2002; DuPage Forest Preserve commissioner, December 1990-present </p><p class="News">Web site: rogerkotecki.org</p><p class="breakhead">Al Murphy</p><p class="News">Age: 47</p><p class="News">Town: West Chicago</p><p class="News">Occupation: Owner, Murphy Ace Hardware</p><p class="News">Education: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh</p><p class="News">Civic involvement: West Chicago Lions Club, chamber of commerce, Assistant Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 21</p><p class="News">Elected offices: Twice elected to aldermanic posts in West Chicago </p><p class="News">Web site: None</p>