Consolidated elections are all about pocketbook issues. There’s not much in the way of national or state elections just local. That’s where the pocketbook is. Not in my wallet.

Typically voter turnout is low. In 2009 out of 59,760 registered voters in DeKalb County only 13,224 bothered to vote (22%). That was with three candidates for mayor of DeKalb — the county’s largest municipality. In 2011 with no mayoral candidates only 11% of registered voters participated in the consolidated elections county wide.

Based on higher than established attendance at various candidate forums there is hope for bigger voter turnout. Based on the soaring debt obligations taxpayers are responsible for and the cuts in services and pension entitlements looming, combined with higher taxes and fees to meet the debt service, higher voter turnout is needed.

The most unforgiving of all the taxes imposed are those assessed on property. In good times or in bad times the only sure thing is that the property taxes will rise. The biggest chunk of real estate taxes go to public education. Do you know who’s running for your school district’s Board of Education?

Low voter turnout favors the few. The connected. Status quo. Did you know that DeKalb County has some of the higher tax rates (total) in the country? Do you know what your share of the local public debt is? So how’s that status quo thing working out for you?

Those who status quo favors vote in high percentages. They’re voting for their pocketbook. So don’t miss this opportunity to vote for yours otherwise just go ahead and open it up because they’re going to need more from it. And more.

Somebody’s got to pay for their vision.

Candidates for District 428 Board of Education; Vickie Hernan-Faivre, Marilyn Parker, Victoria Newport, George “Joe” Mitchell and Mary Hess presented their ideas and qualifications at a Tuesday night forum held at Feed ’Em Soup in DeKalb. The forum was moderated by Cindy Lofthouse. Amy Barnes volunteered as time keeper.

The $21 million construction grant given to District 428 in 2010 is still intact. In the face of a proposed $2.6 million operating deficit with similar projections through 2018 the candidates were asked what the best uses for the grant funds were.

According to the Illinois Capital Development Board the state issued the school construction grant to District 428 in October 2010. The state share  ($21,156,874) was a matching percentage amount to the local share  ($39,291,338). See page 16 on this PDF. It is likely that the local share was obtained from construction debt bonds authorized by the $110 million referendum.

Construction grants authorized by the Capital Development Board are governed by the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules – Section 71. That document appears to prohibit use of such grant money on any on-going operational costs (Section 40.130-b). But according to input provided by Kerry Mellott, a member of the Finance and Facilities Advisory Committee, Assistant Superintendent Andrea Gorla was told that because the necessary matching funds on qualified academic facilities was already spent according to the rules, the $21 million is now unencumbered.

George “Joe” Mitchell believes the intent of the grant was for construction and expenditures from those funds should be restricted to capital improvements to bring the older school buildings infrastructure up to par. He attended LittleJohn Elementary School growing up and said that building is unchanged still now some thirty years later. To attract quality teachers, he said, you had to offer quality facilities.

Vickie Hernan-Faivre reminded the audience that those funds were unencumbered and as much as possible of it should be used to cover the operating deficit.  She felt it important to pay off the impact fee credit owed to ShoDeen Development. Noteable deficiencies between school facilities district wide was also on her list.

Marilyn Parker said it was the current generation’s obligation to not leave their children their debt. Parity among schools are important to her because her priority is to ensure that all children receive the opportunity of a good education.

Mary Hess suggested that at least a portion of the grant be used to pay down the $110 million debt obligation the district’s taxpayers owe. She acknowledged that the looming deficit and the crisis in the state’s finances could erode the reserve funds very quickly. She thought that space and technology issues at some of the existing schools were needed.

Victoria Newport offered three ways to use the funds. She though improving parity among the schools were important so that a child attending Lincoln school had the same experiece as one attending Cortland. She though some funds should be set aside to leverage the deficit. She thought an investment in reducing class size in K-2 might lower costs with better reading performance by third graders.

Add another packed candidate forum to the 2013 consolidated election campaign trail. More than 100 residents attended a candidate forum held at the Cortland Lions Shelter House moderated by 3rd District County Board member Mark Pietrowski. Kori Crooke-Rempfer served as time-keeper.

After a segment for those running for the Town Board, Library and Township offices to introduce themselves the mayoral candidates answered audience submitted questions.

Bob Seyller has served two terms as mayor and is looking for re-election for a third. He built a house in town 21 years ago and still owns the Cortland Barber Shop. He is a past president of the Northern Illinois Mayors Association.

During his eight years at the helm Seyller said Cortland has added a new $15 million sewer plant, a $2.3 million water tower, upgraded technology, two radium removal systems, plus new equipment such as trucks and tractors for public works. He added that the longest term of any debt owed by the Town of Cortland is five years.

Dedicated staff, department heads and consultants makes Seyller’s job as mayor easy and together as a team they offer the best value for the dollar for Cortland residents.

But his opponents, Chuck Lanning and Russell Stokes, believe the Town Administrator was an exorbitant expense at $125,000 compensation and the position as it was employed was creating miscommunications between the mayor, the board and the public. Seyller responded that the administrator contract will not be renewed by vote of the town board so it shouldn’t be talked about moving forward. Read more →

Compared to the challenges facing urban communities the candidates for local offices in the Village of Kirkland discussed more simple issues. High taxes and less people to share the burden of them so survival of their identity as a community was the topic of discussion at the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce candidate night at the Kirkland Fire District station. Ken Brooks moderated the event.

The forum was held at the fire station built in large part through annexation agreements and impact fees collected from the first buyers of homes in those subdivisions. Those subdivisions now have an ample supply of homesites available as are there bank-owned properties here and there around. The distressed property rate in Kirkland is the same as most northern Illinois communities but they seem to have more impact on the town spirit.

Construction debt and staffing plans at the Hiawatha School district acquired to meet growth projections in the peak of the construction boom lead the incline in the property tax rate but the potential of losing the school district to consolidation is real. The real or perceived threat that poses to the community’s identity or even its existence was a constant in the presentations made by all candidates.

The station was packed with a standing room only audience. Read more →

It was standing room only at the DeKalb city council chambers for the League of Women Voters candidate forum for the April 9, 2013 consolidated elections. Kay Shelton, LWV president, hosted the televised forum which was moderated by WNIJ (89.5-FM) reporter Susan Stephens. WNIJ is the NPR News station within Northern Public Radio, the broadcast service of Northern Illinois University.

Stephens panned as the forum started that she wondered if there were any non-candidates in the large audience. But in the time it takes for a shorter-than-normal city council meeting the audience in the room and those tuning in on cable tv heard statements, questions and answers from candidates for the Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees, DeKalb County Regional Office of Education, DeKalb School District #428, DeKalb Township (supervisor, tax assessor, highway commissioner, clerk and trustees), the DeKalb Park Board, 2nd and 4th wards of the DeKalb city council, DeKalb city clerk and mayoral race. Read more →

My name is Lynn Fazekas, and I’m running a write-in campaign for the Office of DeKalb City Clerk.

There is no doubt that I am well qualified for the spot. My 35-year work and volunteer history includes clerical and secretarial experience along with a strong customer service component, just as any clerk candidate should have.

However, I also stand out from the others in significant ways.

One difference is extensive management experience. I’ve been a program manager, case manager and office manager. Management skills, of course, are important when it comes to evaluating processes and making improvements, and the next clerk will find them to be especially critical since he or she will be limited to no more than 12 hours per week or risk violating state minimum wage laws.

Additionally, I approach the office not just as a potential clerk, but also as a customer who has not always been pleased with results. I’ve talked to others who feel the same way and have concluded that “business as usual” is not an option. If I’m elected clerk there will be changes, beginning with an explicit mission to improve customer services.

The third difference is a local issues website, the blog City Barbs, which I’ve run as a volunteer for seven years. City Barbs demonstrates a comfort level with technology that the DeKalb clerk’s office has never seen, as well as my commitment to bringing you information about local government you won’t find anywhere else. No one shares this track record. I envision bringing in talented interns to help lead the office into the 21st century, and I want to show you as never before how your money is being spent – even if I have to start another independent website to do it. Bid awards, vendor contracts and a fully searchable check register top the to-do list in this area.

As some of you already know, an accident nearly prevented me from running for office this year (which is how I ended up a write-in candidate). Rest assured that my recovery remains steady and I will have plenty of energy to implement plans to make your city clerk’s office better.

Please help me turn plans into reality. I would be grateful for your write-in vote during the early voting period or at your polling place April 9.

Find out more about me at the Daily Chronicle’s Election Central and on Facebook.

Political yard signs are popping up all over the neighborhoods as the April 9 elections draw near. Why they’re even showing up near the upper right hand side of the page! DeKalb County Online asked the local candidates to place their campaign sign on our website in exchange for a $90 donation to their favorite local charity and then tell us why they chose their pick.

Jennifer Groce, one of four candidates for Mayor of DeKalb chose the Feed ‘em Soup organization to receive her $90 donation. The mission of the Feed ‘em Soup Community Organization is “to empower our community by serving nutritious cooking with compassion and respect in a restaurant quality environment to anyone – regardless of situation, background or ability to pay while strengthening our community and nourishing hope.”

Other candidates have joined our locals helping locals program, their signs are rotating on this website and their stories will also appear here.

Thanks to all of the candidates for their commitment to our community. It takes a lot of gumption just to step up and take the responsibility of becoming a public servant let alone entering a popularity contest based on who you are, what you’ve done and how you will fix the mess we’re in. The time commitment for campaigning is enormous for those who choose to become a candidate. And thanks to the local charities who provide so many services to our community, too.

Community giving…

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Feed Em Soups works to  encourage compassion and respect by providing delicious community meals – regardless of situation, background or ability to pay thereby strengthening our community and nourishing hope. Very cool! – Jennifer Groce

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This sign is for Feed ‘em Soup Community Organization

From: Jennifer Groce
Name of Office (Seeking): Mayor of DeKalb