Not griping about all county workers

In response to Joe Bauer and his ill-informed commentary in the July 5 Fence Post regarding my initial letter about Du Page County hiring practices: Mr. Bauer claims to be a college graduate unable to find meaningful work, taking county work only as a last alternative. For that I am sorry, and wish him the best.

However, my original letter strictly focused on the plethora of DuPage County employees like Joe Birkett, our state's attorney and the seemingly preferential treatment his family members have apparently received in acquiring these county jobs. I simply remarked how I found it laughable that Mr. Birkett would defend his two children's hiring as anything other than nepotism, when the Daily Herald reported how many county jobs were seemingly filled with current employees' family members, before the jobs being offered to the public.

While I do not mind criticism or a difference of opinion, I do mind someone misrepresenting what I say. Mr. Bauer speaks of how many people would not want the $12-an-hour county work, because they hail from "affluent suburbs." again, missing the point entirely. I am outraged that the county I pay taxes to apparently hire friends and family before those jobs are offered to the public at large. I never once insinuated you were one of those people, Mr. Bauer.

As for your final comment that my children fight their own battles, I assure you they can, and they do; none work for me, nor for DuPage County. All are college graduates, and all are employed in the vocation of their choice. College graduates whose reading comprehension skills have allowed them access to careers and full lives.

Blair Stevens

Wheaton