Says Sente is too tied into Madigan

I support our firefighters and appreciate all they do. However I disagree with my friend Emmett Gribben's recent letter because he missed the point of the letter he was responding to.

The original letter discussed the fact that Democrat incumbent Carol Sente is beholden to special interests and speaker Madigan. One example of many is the potential conflict of interest of being a state representative and working for FGM Architects, getting contracts and personally profiting from building new fire stations and other buildings. Moreover, Sente received the various groups' endorsements and their PAC monies for pushing legislation such as mandating the number of firefighters required on each truck that leaves a station.

This legislation was strongly opposed by many towns including Wheeling and Buffalo Grove since it would cost each millions of dollars they don't have and was unnecessary since the majority of calls are for emergency medical technicians and not fires. This bill would also have cost local taxpayers millions of dollars more in salary and pension liabilities raising each homeowner's taxes significantly.

Despite all these burdens, Carol Sente voted YES for House Bill 5485. This bill was a major unfunded mandate that was bad for municipalities and taxpayers as well as weakened local control, Sente's actions prove once again she is an entrenched, tax and spend Springfield politician and not the "independent" she claims to be.

Christine Dolgopol

Wheeling