DuPage GOP not listening to people
The Sept. 8 letter to the editor by state Sen. Kirk Dillard demonstrates the use of fear so prevalent in Republican voter manipulation of late. We saw it with Bush/Rove and we see it here in DuPage County. As much as he tries to compare DuPage County Democrats to Cook County, he fails miserably when you actually examine the history.
The DuPage County Democrats have publicly opposed taking campaign contributions from those who do business with the county. The Republicans have and will continue to engage in "pay-to-play" politics. This may be the "ownership" society they are so proud of. The contractors fill DuPage Republicans' campaign coffers and then "own" the Republican county board when it comes time to receive contracts. Bob Schillerstrom, chairman of the all-Republican County Board, received hundreds of thousands of dollars from contractors who have reaped millions in contracts with the county. Democratic County Board candidates opposed the huge 10 percent pay increase that the all-Republican board approved for themselves just before announcing their $40 million budget deficit. The DuPage Democrats also opposed the sales tax increase fought for and won by the all-Republican board. The recent property tax increases should dispel any notion that the Republicans are succeeding in keeping taxes low.
Dillard and other Republicans are quick to decry our present governor, but conveniently forget to mention what happened under the leadership of Republican Gov. George Ryan, who left office with a $3 billion budget deficit and a bigger corruption scandal than anything we've seen in Illinois. Senators Dillard and Cronin argue against any Democrats being elected in DuPage, while complaining that they are not listened to in Springfield because they are the minority. The real problem is that they don't listen to or really care about the people they represent. It's time for a change in DuPage. Elect some voices of reason to the county board.
Bob Peickert, chairman
Democratic Party of DuPage County
Lombard