<h3 class="briefHead">Religion is not on the ballot</h3>

Poor candidate Darren Bailey seems confused about what office he is running for. It's a shame he and his ilk think Illinois is a church and he is running for pope. Let me and my ilk remind him that we do not care, nor do we want religion to run and ruin our state and our rights.

Folks like Bailey believe their religion should be making the rules about our bodies, LGBTQIA+ folks, public schools and everyone else based on their religion's doctrine.

Folks like Bailey, openly supported by hate groups, believe the Holocaust is theirs to use to keep folks from getting abortions. Too bad Bailey doesn't care that in Judaism a child does not exist until it takes its first breath outside of the mother's body or that abortion IS in the Bible. It's disgusting that Bailey is OK with bringing one of the most horrific mass murders in human history to his vain attempt at justifying his beliefs.

Too bad Bailey doesn't care that access to abortion deeply affects people of color, poorer communities and those in rural areas and that his religion has absolutely no rights to someone else's body and future.

Folks like Bailey freely accept support from hate groups to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ folks. I ask you, how does someone's sexual orientation and gender affect you? It doesn't. Imagine all the parents who kick their kids out because of religious intolerance. Imagine all the young folks who commit suicide because of this type of hate. You don't approve - no one cares. It is a NUNYA-none ya business. And stop the lies about grooming.

Remember, it's not just freedom OF religion, it's freedom FROM religion. When your religion is used to hate and harm, you have no business in taxpayer-funded public office.

Laura R. Welch, President

Illinois National Organization for Women; NOW National Board

Naperville

<h3 class="briefHead">Let your voice be heard</h3>

We complain when we see what we must pay in taxes, but by that time, it's too late to complain. We should voice our complaints when we learn of unnecessary government spending. If, for example, you oppose the state paying to care for the illegal immigrants who were bused here, then complain to your officials.

Of course, our voices are heard the loudest on Election Day, where we have the opportunity to vote against those who have frivolously spent our tax dollars.

Larry E. Nazimek

Chicago

<h3 class="briefHead">A leader for clean energy solutions in illinois</h3>

Depending on how long you've lived here, you have probably been experiencing the effects of climate change. As the Nature Conservancy's recent report concluded: "Illinois is experiencing long-term changes in weather patterns, especially increases in extreme warm periods and total annual precipitation, as well as great intensities of individual rainstorms."

It may be that the intensified storms have led to your basement flooding or fallen tree branches, or the extreme summer heat is keeping you inside more.

Fortunately, thanks to the Democrats in Congress, we finally have a chance to do something about it with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. With this bill, which is paid for by ensuring that big companies pay their fair share, there is money to get us ready for the future while creating good-paying clean energy jobs. And the strategy for how to combat climate change is largely the result of the vision of Rep. Sean Casten of the 6th District and fellow members of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the NDC's Climate Change Task Force.

Casten knows how to help businesses profitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the recovery of otherwise wasted energy because he's done it as a CEO of a clean energy company. He has also been strategizing on developing Illinois' energy infrastructure of tomorrow such as battery manufacture, charging stations and energy storage.

Support Sean Casten this November for the leadership we need in a new world of clean energy.

Ellen Vestergaard, Hinsdale;

Jean Dorrance, Westmont

Marybeth Devine, Downers Grove

<h3 class="briefHead">Listen and hear what women really want</h3>

Raja Krishnamoorthi seems to think the only thing on a woman's mind when she votes is abortion. It's all he talks about. Well, Congressman, let me tell you a little something about what women want.

We want to be able to buy groceries for our families. Prices are through the roof thanks to the trillions in spending you wholeheartedly supported.

We want the supply chain crisis fixed, because there are moms across the district and this country who can't find baby formula and are paying through the nose to get it. We noticed you didn't do anything then to help.

We want a solution to the border crisis. It's not only a humanitarian crisis and an embarrassment that we can't help these people, but drug overdoses are skyrocketing because of drugs like fentanyl coming over the southern border.

We want our streets to be safe, because we can't enjoy our beautiful city of Chicago for fear that we will be the next victim to be carjacked or robbed on the street.

So Congressman Krishnamoorthi, stop mansplaining what we want and start listening to the women who live here instead of other politicians in D.C. We're not as singularly focused on abortion as you seem to think.

Stop telling us what we want like the politician you are and start listening.

Pam Carr Hagerman

West Dundee

<h3 class="briefHead">The least bad option</h3>

In the first question to Mr. Dargis on his reaction to the committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, Mr. Dargis starts off spewing the Republicans' "alternative facts" where he says, instead of approaching this in a bipartisan fashion, Nancy Pelosi unilaterally rejected Republicans on the committee.

Apparently, Mr. Dargis has forgotten all of the Republicans were asked to be on this committee, but Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy instructed the Republicans not to join this committee.

However, Mr. Dargis is incorrect, it is bipartisan (has he forgotten Rep. Cheney of Wyoming and Rep. Kinzinger of our own state of Illinois?)

They may have been "shunned" as outcasts from the Republican Party, but until after next January, they still are Republican congressmen.

It's too bad that Mr. Dargis misrepresented the truth, as I've not been all that happy with Rep. Krishnamoorthi, and I was truly hoping Mr. Dargis could earn my vote. Apparently, I'll have to go for the lesser of two evils and hold my nose, as the representative has disappointed me in the past.

David Kumpula

Hoffman Estates

<h3 class="briefHead">Compassionate, hard-working</h3>

Greg Schwarze has spent his career serving the community, first as a firefighter/paramedic and now as a DuPage County Board member. I will be voting for Greg Schwarze to be reelected to the DuPage County Board.

He works every day to improve the lives of the residents of DuPage County. He is a compassionate public servant.

I have worked alongside him for many years. He is fair, trustworthy and hard working. He understands the residents of DuPage County.

Join me in supporting Greg Schwarze and vote for his reelection to the DuPage County Board.

Rick Gieser

Carol Stream

<h3 class="briefHead">Record of success for DuPage chairman</h3>

I support Republican Greg Hart for Chairman of the DuPage County Board. In his five years on the board, he has shown strong leadership by chairing important committees including Health and Human Services and the Heroin and Opioids Task Force.

He led the integration of psychiatric services into the Health Department, saving taxpayers nearly $1 million, and he initiated job training for drug patients and supported a new drug court. These earned two separate awards from the National Association of Counties.

As chair of the Technology Committee, he oversaw the transition to a new property tax system. He is a strong supporter of law enforcement to address rising crime in the region and works to promote DuPage businesses and the jobs they create. He has worked to improve infrastructure, simplify processes, control costs and taxes and improve accessibility and efficiency.

Greg Hart has been recognized and endorsed by many respected DuPage leaders. His education, business experience and leadership in DuPage County make him the person for the role of DuPage County Board chair.

John K. Rutledge

Wheaton

<h3 class="briefHead">Amendment would block financial reforms</h3>

Illinois will soon vote on Amendment 1. Supporters are selling it as simply a way to protect the right of workers to collective bargaining.

I am a union guy. I like unions. I believe in unions. But what they are not telling you about this Amendment is that this bill was written more to protect public-sector unions than private-sector ones.

Yes, the same people who are refusing to fix the pension clause in the Illinois State Constitution that both protects public-sector unions and is bankrupting the state now want to strengthen public-sector unions to make sure that any attempts at future reforms will be cut off at the pass.

Private-sector unions negotiate with businesses that have to make payroll and stay out of debt, or at least be able to pay off their debts. Governments, whether state or federal, are happy to incur huge amounts of debt where we waste our money making interest payments, because they want to squeeze the most money possible for themselves and their workers.

Our state government has shown that it is incapable of handling our money with prudence and responsibility. Passing this Amendment will make any significant reforms to our state government almost impossible. Which means, it's not going to get done.

Larry Craig

Wilmette

<h3 class="briefHead">Integrity, service for Supreme Court judge</h3>

With just over five weeks to go until the November election, the stakes have never been higher. We must ensure that only the most qualified candidates are serving on our nation's courts.

That's why I am supporting Judge Elizabeth Rochford for the Illinois Supreme Court. Judge Rochford has served as a judge for 10 years and is the only candidate rated as "Most Qualified" and "Highly Recommended" to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court by Illinois' bar associations.

Throughout her 35-year legal career, Judge Rochford has always worked to ensure that everyone has equal access to the courts. As the daughter of a police officer and a special-education teacher, Judge Rochford's parents instilled in her the value of public service at a young age. Her long record of integrity and service has helped her earn the endorsement of Illinois leaders like Secretary of State Jesse White, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart and more.

Those who know her say that there is no stronger champion for women in this race than Judge Rochford. The judge is endorsed by groups including Lake County Democratic Women, Planned Parenthood, Personal PAC, pro-choice legislative leaders and other women's rights organizations - some of whom have written the strongest laws in the nation on reproductive rights.

At a time when so many of our rights are on the line, we need a candidate who will fight for everyone.

Please consider voting for our friend and trusted advocate, Judge Elizabeth Rochford, on Nov. 8.

Susan Garrett

Lake Forest

<h3 class="briefHead">Ill-conceived referendum for outdoor pool</h3>

Prospect Heights residents will decide at the polls on Nov. 8 whether to approve a $30 million, 25-year tax hike submitted by the park district to replace the outdoor pool and the Gary Morava Recreational Center. The referendum also includes replacing the administration building and increasing parking. All of this without increasing staff to maintain the proposed extravagant facility.

It seems ill-conceived to replace an outdoor pool with another outdoor pool if you consider the pool is open roughly two months each year. 2022 had an opening date of June 4 and a closing date of August 7.

The 2020 U.S. Census indicated the number of households in Prospect Heights to be 6,144 and the number of residents to be 16,058. Requests to the park district regarding how many Prospect Heights residents actually utilize the facility have gone unanswered.

2022 has seen many households struggling to afford food, housing, medical, heating, cooling and gasoline with constantly increasing inflation. The state of Illinois recognizes the difficulties facing our citizens and has implemented tax rebates. Some local suburban Cook County cities are eliminating car permit stickers to assist their residents.

The park district is asking permission to increase our property taxes for the next 25 years if voters approve this referendum with no concern to cost of living expenditures by the residents of Prospect Heights. A property valued at $300,000 in 2020 would have an estimated increase of almost $500/year added to your tax bill.

Please give careful consideration to this referendum and vote no.

Colleen Graudins

Prospect Heights

<h3 class="briefHead">Put people, competence before politics at polls</h3>

Both political parties are shouting, "people over politics." But, regardless of party we should be shouting "people and competence over politics."

I've been a citizen of McHenry County for a quarter century. One of my most sacred possessions is my vote. It allows my voice to be heard at every level from local school board elections to national elections. When errors occur in the county clerk's office, my vote is threatened.

The Daily Herald's excellent reporting shows that when McHenry County desperately needed to improve its dysfunctional county clerk's office, Tirio continued its history of errors.

These include: 1) Failing to adjust voting machines when changing ballot language resulting in unreported votes and an expensive countywide recount; 2) Voters receiving wrong ballots; 3) Ballot language errors on a referendum for first responders which could have resulted in a costly challenge; 4) A costly appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, which unanimously determined Tirio erred in unilaterally throwing out a ballot question; 5) Major changes to precinct maps resulting in confusion and delays; and, 6) An embarrassing, Illinois Board of Elections conference call to the County Clerk's Office to educate it on preventing future election problems.

Tirio somehow thinks his four years of election errors is an advantage over his opponent. It's not.

Mary Mahady's success running the McHenry Township Assessor's Office, indicates that she has what it takes to move the County Clerk's Office forward with competence and compassion starting on Day One.

This means: 1) Increasing access to voting for all eligible voters; 2) Improving voting processes through accuracy, accountability and transparency; and, 3) Improving accuracy in the public records handled in the clerk/recorder's office.

It's not about politics; it's about competence. And, I'm voting for competence. I'm voting for Mary Mahady.

Bruce A. Lane

Cary

<h3 class="briefHead">Helping local communities</h3>

Residents of the 66th District look to their elected officials to meet the needs of their communities. Rep. Ness has done that and more. She has helped to secure more than 20 million dollars in infrastructure spending for local municipalities, facilitated legislation that has helped seniors and the most vulnerable in the community. She has been involved in many aspects of her community, supporting shelters, standing up for community businesses impacted by violence and seeing that federal dollars were spent in support of needs in District 66. She is a proud supporter of a woman's right to choose and common-sense measures against gun violence. District 66 has a strong leader in Suzanne Ness.

Please vote for District 66 Rep. Suzanne Ness on Nov. 8.

Anna Gifford

Huntley