Lifetime in politics creating enemies

One of Chris Lauzen's top three priorities as chairman of the Kane County Board is to "treat people respectfully." Seems ironic for a man who has spent a career alienating himself within his own party in Springfield as a state senator and the last three years viciously attacking fellow Republicans at home.

Reading local news, one would think that Mr. Lauzen was a dictator of a Third World Country, privately berating those that challenged him in public and demonizing anyone who opposes him. Kane County is his bully pulpit. His goal is to advance his agenda by eliminating any opposition on the county board and privately recruiting candidates to run against them.

I've witnessed leadership at many levels, both at the local level and on the national stage in Washington, D.C. where I have lived for the last 10 years, except for coming back home in 2009 to run for U.S. Congress. I've worked for the U.S. Secretary of Defense where I traveled the world including 14 trips to Baghdad, Iraq as part of the effort to win the war by putting people back to work. I've worked alongside our troops and walked away inspired and hopeful about our future.

I've seen up close what happens when someone spends nearly a lifetime in politics. Your priorities shift from "Service" to "Serve-Us" and Mr. Lauzen is no exception. It's time for Mr. Lauzen to go. Everything has an expiration date, and your time is up.

This Hispanic Republican is proud to endorse Ken Shepro for Kane County Board chairman. Ken hasn't spent a lifetime in politics creating enemies. He's spent a lifetime in the private sector gaining new friends; count me in as one of them.

Mark Vargas

St. Charles/Washington, D.C.