Schmidt’s acts were breach of trust

The Daily Herald article “Senator used clout in 911 calls?” rightly questioned whether State Sen. Suzi Schmidt (R-District 31) wielded her clout in a domestic marital tiff which amounted to a breach of public trust.

Schmidt defeated incumbent Michal Bond last November. Prior to that, she served as the Lake County Board chairman from 2000 to 2010, the first woman ever elected to that position. Most of my contacts with Schmidt were while she was chairman of the Lake County Board in regard to the now defeated proposal to build a wind farm in northern Illinois, the premature closure the Dual Zion Nuclear Plant, and on the issue of gun rights.

Schmidt’s district is north of my own, but corruption should be nipped in the bud wherever it may fall in the political spectrum, whether Republican or Democrat related. For corruption is like a cancer. Once fertile ground is located through which its tentacles can grow and spread, it will destroy all that is in its path.

What might have been construed as domestic disputes between Schmidt and her husband has now evolved into the use of clout. As with many counties, Lake County has a “Good Old Boys Club” whose members protect their own. Lake County Republicans are rallying to defend Schmidt, appearing as hypocrites, as the same Republicans would not tolerate an identical situation from a Democrat.

Is it any wonder why the public rates elected politicians so low on the totem pole?

Nancy J. Thorner

Lake Bluff