Hastert should reimburse voters

At a time when our country, county, local communities and residents are in need of every penny available to cover basic financial operating, maintenance and household financial expenses, it's most disheartening to read about avoidable costs created by an elected official pushing Kane County into a financial "Red Zone." (Daily Herald article of Dec. 20, "Kane County Ends Year in the Red.")

While each of the major factors reported in that article deserve separate and close taxpayer attention, it is Congressman Hastert forcing county taxpayers to shoulder special election costs that I question.

Frankly, it's high time we started calling our elected officials on the carpet and holding them far more accountable. Those responsible for other county clerk's office overages and new county jail cost overages take note.

Congressman Hastert, I suggest you need to do the honorable thing and cover the expenses you have created by retiring early and forcing a special election costing the taxpayers of Kane County approximately $500,000. Serving out your full term and paving a path for an efficient transition of your Congressional seat is something you owe your constituents, in return for the trust they conveyed by electing you to office.

Certainly you amassed and likely still have available campaign contribution funds. How appropriate to use such contributions now, to pay for the $500,000 in expenses that your actions have caused.

Should you find restrictions to use of these funds as proposed, let me suggest you consider funds you have from the $2 million profit you gained by selling 138 acres near the Prairie Parkway after earmarking $200 million in federal funds for this $1 billion expressway.

Tom Heaton

Batavia