Dist. 5 candidate spar on spending
Republican candidates for DuPage County Board District 5 have differing ideas about how much sales tax revenue the county should expect to take in and how past revenues have been spent.
Incumbent John Zediker, president and CEO of Moser Enterprises, is facing a challenge from real estate consultant Joe Wozniak, a regional school trustee, in the Feb. 2 Republican primary.
Zediker was appointed to the county board in February 2009 in a district that includes portions of Naperville, Aurora, Lisle, Woodridge and Warrenville.
The county is forecasting a 4 percent growth in sales tax revenue this year, but Wozniak said it should have planned for zero just to be on the safe side.
"Foreclosures are increasing, more jobs are being lost," he said. "This is not the economy ... spending is not going to be increasing."
Zediker said he is "cautiously optimistic" about the 4 percent figure but believes the county should hold off on borrowing $4 million for road construction projects just in case.
If the sales tax revenue does fall short, Zediker said the county won't proceed with the loan. Wozniak said to deal with shortfalls he would ask each department to reduce its operating budget. Both men say the county should consider consolidating and combining jobs as they become open.
The two candidates disagree in their views of how the county has spent the funds from the 2008 sales tax hike. The money is allowed to go toward transportation and public safety costs but most of it has gone toward the latter.
Zediker said he understands the importance of the sheriff's department and judicial system.
"All of those are necessary things but as we come out of the dip here I really want to see us make a concerted effort to move revenues to the original intent, which is transportation," he said.
Wozniak, a retired police officer, said the money went where it belonged and he would not want to see any public safety jobs cut.
"I will not jeopardize the safety of the community in any way," he said. "I will take a firm stand on that. The safety of the community comes first."
The winner of the Feb. 2 primary will face Democrat Brian Duewel in the November general election.