Avon petitioners weren’t extremists

I would like to respond to a letter to the editor on April 13, titled “Scary Meeting,” referencing the annual Avon Township public meeting.

The meeting was legally called and advertised. A group of citizens petitioned the Avon board to place on the November ballot an advisory referendum to tell our politicians that we need a constitutional amendment to limit special interest and corporate money in politics.

The petition to have an advisory referendum was widely circulated at the train stations, public events, and door-to-door campaigning then delivered to the township 45 days prior to the annual meeting. To state that a group of “extremists” did this is a total misnomer.

I am not going to address the unfounded and inflammatory accusations in his letter. The facts are, over $85 million was spent on the primary to win the Republican nomination and President Obama has over $175 million in PAC money for the 2012 presidential election. Currently, it takes an average of $1.2 million to run for a congressional seat.

We want to tell our politicians that millionaires, corporations, special interests, nonprofits and unions should not be able to purchase an election and influence votes. Money is not free speech.

A citizen’s voice and votes should dictate a position, not the size of their wallets.

Everyone in Avon Township should have the right to vote and express their opinions without being labeled as extremists. Watch for your November ballot and please vote Yes to get money out of politics.

Kim Kearby

Round Lake