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Sam Flint - A Candidate's Diary
Candidate for
Vernon Township
Supervisor
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Why I’m Running for Vernon Township Supervisor
After living in Buffalo Grove for 20 years, I decided to attend a Vernon Township meeting and observe how the folks who assess our home values and provide social services to our neighbors make decisions in the public interest. My experience astonished me.
Thirty-two years of unchallenged control by Supervisor Peterson has led to lockstep, unanimous votes on every issue, little discussion of six-figure decisions, and secrecy that the CIA would envy. I was not allowed to look at the briefing materials that my Trustees reviewed to inform them on the issues, and when I asked for a copy of the minutes for the last meeting, I was told to complete and submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. After forgoing my anonymity, completing the forms, paying for the copying, I received a sanitized list of unanimous votes that passed for minutes.
Why doesn’t Vernon post their minutes on their Web site, like other townships? I wondered what they are hiding, so I did some searching and discovered one item of interest. If re-elected, by the end of their next term Vernon Township’s Supervisor, Assessor, Highway Commissioner, and Clerk will be the highest paid of any Lake County township. Supervisor Peterson will leapfrog his counterparts with a fat 13% raise. Assessor Raupp’s six-figure salary will top out more than $25,000 higher than any other Assessor in the county. Fat raises during this staggering recession accompanied by falling home prices and a shrinking tax base is just plain wrong.
I don’t know what other poor decisions have been made behind closed doors, but I’ve seen enough. I have decided to run for Township Supervisor with a slate of Democrats who will roll back these unconscionable raises, bring transparency to township government, and make Vernon Township first in citizen responsiveness, not politician pay.
Samuel Flint
Buffalo Grove
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Marla Sundh - A Candidate's Diary
Candidate for
Vernon Township
Trustee
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Opportunities for Change Communities Can Believe In
reprinted with permission.
President Obama’s inauguration was a milestone in many ways – the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream, the movement of progressive views to a prominent spot on the national forum. And one other thing: a new emphasis on taking action in our own communities.
There are so many challenges before us, from creating sources of renewable energy, to providing affordable healthcare, to growing the economy once more. Is there any wonder that the energy is contagious? There is an unprecedented need and desire to stay active and involved to face these challenges and fix what we have the power to fix.
In communities all over the 10th District, individuals and small groups are looking at the performance of local governments and are finding many opportunities for change. Opportunities abound in our communities to provide social services, exercise sound fiscal management, and create transportation systems that focus on green technology.
“I want to bring transparency to township government,” says Sam Flint, candidate for Vernon Township
and head of the first-ever slate of Democrats to run for Vernon Township government.
Democrats are also running in Avon Township, Northfield Township, Libertyville Township, Moraine Township, West Deerfield Township, and others. There are candidates seeking to bring Democratic values to bear in communities from Waukegan to Wilmette, and from Vernon Hills to Mt.. Prospect.
As Karen McCormick, candidate for Northfield trustee states, “The timing is right for Democratic change in Northfield Township.”
Indeed, this is a chance for ordinary citizens to do extraordinary things.
Typically, local elections don’t make much of a stir with voters. Running on issues like those listed below, Democratic candidates have an unprecedented opportunity to make a difference this year.
Transparency in government,
Responsible taxation
Accountability to the citizens
Campaign spending reform
Social services assistance for the most vulnerable among us
Policies to protect the environment
Modernization of local transportation
As President Obama exhorted in his inaugural address, “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.” Here, in communities across the 10th Congressional District, we’re trying to do just that.
Marla Sundh
Buffalo Grove
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Glenn Stier - Help Us Change Vernon Township
Candidate for
Vernon Township
Clerk
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It seems everyday we wake to news of additional layoffs and work furloughs, increasing home foreclosures and plummeting 401k and retirement savings. With tax revenues declining, important government services are under threat and more and more of our citizens face an uncertain future. At times like these, it becomes clearer why our local government is so important. Vernon township government has the responsibility to provide general and emergency assistance to township residents in need, to ensure fair and equitable tax assessments for all property owners, and to maintain sewers and roads in the unincorporated areas of the township. The township also supports social service agencies that provide help to seniors, young adults, disabled, and unemployed people, and houses the food pantry, which helps to feed hungry families. I know first-hand how important these services can be to residents in need.
That’s why I have decided to run as a Democrat for office in Vernon Township. I feel privileged to join a slate of truly talented people: Township Supervisor Sam Flint, Township Assessor Peter Hopkins, Township Highway Commissioner Mike Lofstrom, Township Clerk Glenn Stier, and Trustees – Phil Hirsh, Cassie Horvath, Akrom Hossain, and Marla Sundh. I hope you will get a chance to meet each of us before the election April 7th.
Contribute Now!
Opportunities abound to strengthen the township’s services and respond to increasing needs and to do it within our budget. That’s why we’re running. Township government IS government by the citizens, and we all face this difficult economic time together. With everyone pitching in, we can respond to the emergency needs of our residents. Acting together, we can prepare for a significant increase in the use of the safety-net services our community relies on to get through tough times and make sure our expenditures match our priorities. In contrast, our current township administration has allowed ever spiraling property tax increases, voted excessive salary increases for elected officials, and sheltered access to information on budget expenditures, township priorites, and meeting agendas.
We need your support to make change happen! Election Day is just 9 short weeks away – on Tuesday, April 7th – and we must take our campaign to every precinct in Vernon Township to make sure our message gets heard. If you can help, please contribute an amount you feel comfortable with - $25, $50, $100 or more. Even a $5 or $10 contribution sends a message that “We’re all in this together”. Thank you for your support and above all, if you are a resident in our township, mention our campaign to your friends and please VOTE for the Democratic slate on Tuesday, April 7th.
Contribute Now!
Glenn Stier
Vernon Hills
Candidate for Vernon Township Clerk
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