Local 'king making'

In 1964, Phyllis Schlafly wrote her influential book "A Choice Not an Echo," which helped propel Barry Goldwater to the top of the Republican presidential ticket. Schlafly's book criticized the GOP leadership for having selected candidates through "king making" by the party's elite. There is a strong similarity between our village's own king-making tradition, and the king making of Schlafly's time. This recap may help:

Arlene Mulder, a career politician who served on the park district board for 12 years, won a trustee seat with the endorsement of the then-mayor in 1991. After two years as trustee, the mayor asked Mulder to run as his replacement upon his retirement.

Mayor Mulder served five terms, running unopposed in most races. Mulder anointed Tom Hayes as her successor in 2013. Mayor Hayes is seeking a third and runs unopposed, yet again.

Unfortunately, the advantage this paternalistic system gives to those who find favor with the mayor is significant. Add to that the inexcusably large number of uncontested races, and what you have is a city government that is more monarchy than democracy.

Candidates who enjoy the mayor's endorsement in the run-up to election will have to knuckle under to his beliefs when it is time to repay the favor. With elected officials more beholden to the mayor than they are to the voters, how will our community come together to confront the serious issues facing Arlington Heights?

The financial condition of Arlington Heights will suffer unless we choose to elect candidates who are committed to leading the people, as well as to staying independent of the influence of the power brokers in office.

Christopher Mier

Arlington Heights