‘Yes’ vote brings peace to Winfield

On March 20 Winfield voters for the first time in history will be asked if they would like each of their political representatives to come from six separate districts. The districting question has been a long time coming. This is the 3rd time in 10 years that an attempt was made to place the question on the ballot. This effort involved 25 citizens from all corners of the village. The reason we worked so hard ask this question of the voters is because Winfield has been so politically dysfunctional for so long.

Winfield politics are more vicious than most. We have political tabloids with axes to grind that appear only around election time. We have a Political Action Committee that protects a few politically connected and wealthy people at the expense of the rest of the village. The village can’t seem to agree on or execute a vision. All the while village infrastructure is eroding as the bills continue to mount.

Winfield has always been a hotbed of discontent. Newspaper clippings going back to 1965 show cliques of politicians sweeping in only to be swept out in the next election. The environment of “at-large” elections has devolved into a winner-take-all cage match.

The districting referendum is an opportunity to fix our political affliction. Words are fuel driving districting proponents. I hear words like “peace,” “accountability,” “equal representation,” “continuity” and “progress”.

We know what we have now and we know it’s not working. On March 20 please vote “yes” to district Winfield. Choose “yes” and be part of the solution that brings peace to Winfield politics.

Tim Allen

Winfield trustee