Schock’s legacy of failures

Elgin Mayor Ed Schock likes to mention his leadership as why he should be re-elected. Well, let’s look at some of his failures.

First, let’s look at some of the organizations he’s supported both at the council and in the mayor’s office. Neighborhood Housing Services, which was investigated by the Kane County Sheriff and an employee was charged as well as convicted of fraud.

Then we’ve got God’s Gym, an anti-gang program heavily funded by the city in the 1990s later to be placed in the city’s parks and recreation department raided by the FBI with help from Elgin Police when one of the employees was selling illegal drugs.

Funding for these groups was debated on the council in the late ‘90s because of questions about their operations. I know, because I was on the council at that time. Yet after becoming mayor, Mr. Schock and his council stopped asking the tough questions.

Next, let’s look at Mayor Schock’s support for city programs, primarily the Centre of Elgin. Shortly after winning the mayor’s office he rammed this project through the council. Since its opening the city has lost $500,000 to $600,000 a year in operating costs, meaning that over its 10-year operation we, the taxpayers, have lost between $5 million and $6 million with no end in sight.

Finally, let’s look at Mr. Schock’s record on economic development. During the mid-2000s he, along with the council, voted to give millions of dollars in incentives to builders and developers to build in Elgin. Councilman Dave Kaptain was the only person to vote “no” on these handouts.

I’ve known Kaptain for six years and he’s honest, very accessible and a man with good common sense. So, on April 5 please join me in voting for Dave Kaptain for mayor.

Terry L. Gavin

Elgin