Getting down to dollars & sense (or lack thereof)

Like many a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, I'm afraid to watch, afraid to not, afraid October will never get here, afraid it will be gone too soon.

The agony of 1969 has faded, but the refresher of other almosts keeps it just fresh enough. Not that any of us are complaining as we go into the final days of the regular season on top. Nope, not one little bit.

So come on, all you fellow, nail-biting Chicago Cubs fans. Tell us what you think of this incredibly fun -- and torturous -- season. What's been the best part? The worst?

And, go ahead, make your prediction. Don't let some silly goat spook you. Is this the year?

Send your thoughts to amack@dailyherald.com marked "Cubs" or call me at (847) 931-5725. Go Cubbies!

One sweet gig

I'm still waiting to hear back from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi about some of those things he's asked taxpayers to cover. When I do, I'll let you know what he has to say about items like that $100 gift certificate for Dunhill's, duplicate payments to Huntley's Fallfest, a Menard's gift certificate, and a $162 dinner at Shaw's Crab House.

I'll also ask about more than $300 in car wash coupons, the $127 briefcase, the $6.11 Fannie May Valentine's Day purchase, and things like $93.72 for poinsettias "for everyone in office" -- purchased Nov. 27, 2004 -- before he took office.

Judged poorly

His fellow public officials, meanwhile, are most unhappy with his asking taxpayers to pick up the tab for meals they thought he, personally, was paying for.

Particularly upset is Illinois Appellate Court Judge Susan F. Hutchinson, who says she was surprised and distressed that the state's attorney had taxpayers pay for her lunch with him in August 2006.

"I offered to pay for lunch and he said no, he would ... and I thought he would," the judge said, adding she normally pays her own way, but he'd insisted.

She wanted to discuss her concerns about morale and the high turnover in his office, she said -- and since she's known Bianchi since the 1970s when both worked at the state's attorney's office, she said she thought she might be helpful.

She acknowledges that after that lunch, she considered running for the position herself. But concerns for a son with special needs overrode the desire to campaign for changes in the prosecutor's office.

Nevertheless, she is angry the state's attorney had taxpayers pick up the tab. "I was dismayed to see that, somehow, I became an office expense," the judge said.

She's not the only one.

For now, McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer says she's focusing on revising the county's business and travel expense policy, then will work toward seeking reimbursement "where appropriate."

I'll bet many of you know where she should start.

Pay your way

When I first started digging into Bianchi's many expenditures for candy, doughnuts, gift certificates and meals, someone told me people were afraid to talk with me. They feared I was a close friend of one of his very politically active investigators.

I told them I was pretty sure no one active in McHenry County politics would call me a "close friend."

And that's how it should be. I'm a journalist and, yes, I have friends. And, yes, I like many of the political folks I encounter. But I don't mix the two.

I'd count two people who hold elected office in the state as more than just professional friends, people who share and hear the personal things that define friendship in my book. Neither is involved in this story. If they were, I wouldn't cover the issue.

Journalists must ensure both our own integrity and that of our news organizations. It's why we don't let sources or political figures buy our meals or anything else.

Even on a reciprocal basis.

It leaves the impression we can be bought. And no credible journalist wants the community to believe they can be bought. Especially with the very taxpayer dollars we're supposed to help guard.

Plenty of pennies

I've got just the place for your extra pennies, nickels and taxpayer dollars. Ever been to a Penny Social?

Elaine Slack invites us to stop by the Tri-City Evergreen VFW Post, 117 S. First St., West Dundee tonight for the Carpentersville Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5915's fundraiser to help local police, fire, Little League, Boys and Girls Club and more.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and they start calling numbers at 7 p.m. Table prizes, raffles, door prizes, refreshments and helping a great cause will make even a fleeced taxpayer feel fine.

Book it!

Save a dollar or two to use at the Friends of the Algonquin Area Public Library fall book sale. Doors open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Eastgate branch. The 22,000-plus items range from 25 cents for children's books to $3 for DVDs, with most books $1 or less. It's $10 to get in Thursday night and free the other days. Take Route 62 to Eastgate (by the McDonald's) and go south a half block.

I wonder if they have any books on ethics for public officials?