Promises made, promises broken by Lauzen
Descartes said, "To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do rather than what they say." This certainly applies to Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen.
At the June board meeting, Lauzen chose to take reporter Jim Fuller to task for not painting a "positive" picture of Lauzen's accomplishments. Accusing Fuller of "skewing the news and spinning it." Lauzen spent 10 minutes berating him. Unlike the county's taxpayer funded e-newsletter, Fuller's stories couldn't be handpicked by the chairman.
When Lauzen swept into office on his "reform" platform, he promised taxpayers a frozen tax levy, to end backroom cronyism and common sense and principle when addressing county policy. Within days this was abandoned. Lauzen hired an unqualified young campaign supporter as animal control Director. Months later, this individual left under allegations of serious ethical lapses and Lauzen provided no explanation.
Recently, two of Lauzen's biggest supporters received Riverboat Grant funding for their projects, while social service agencies continually struggle to keep their doors open.
Lauzen's campaign slogan was "promises made … promises kept." He promised those opposing the Longmeadow Bridge that he would support a referendum on the merits of the project. This promise vanished.
Perhaps the most grievous demonstration of hypocrisy was when Lauzen abandoned his "putting taxpayers first" pledge urging board members to vote to give him a $35,000 raise. Apparently his $105,000 salary plus his $75,000 yearly state pension, aren't enough for his insatiable appetite. The majority of the board embraced the common sense approach Lauzen abandoned and denied the raise. Now these individuals are facing the wrath of a chairman scorned. Some have had opponents recruited. Others are threatened with having their committee chairmanships stripped.
Lauzen's campaign website states: "My priorities include freezing the county property tax levy, treating people respectfully and providing honest competent administration through innovation." Promises made … promises broken.
Ellen Nottke
Batavia