Fifth Ward Alderman Ron Naylor seems very proud that the FY2011 budget is down $700,000 from FY2007. I went through those budgets and counted more than 40 positions eliminated since FY2008 — but, assuming a little hiring has been done this past fiscal year, let’s say we’re down about three dozen. There’s been virtually nothing…
Category: Local Campaigns
ReNew Our Schools and Candidate Barnes
Below are listed the officers of ReNew Our Schools, the political action committee (PAC) set up to campaign for the $110 million District 428 construction referendum that passed in early 2008. One of the co-chairs of the PAC, Cohen Barnes, is currently running for a spot on the District 428 school board. In the comments…
Statements of Economic Interest, 2011 District 428 School Board Candidates
There are 11 candidates in this race, and three of them listed something other than “none” or “NA” on their Statements of Economic Interest (SEI). As is true of yesterday’s post about the City of DeKalb candidates’ SEIs, all items should be read as reports of what has occurred “in the preceding calendar year”; and…
Statements of Economic Interest, 2011 City of DeKalb Candidates
Five of the candidates for alderman had no disclosures to make (“N/A” for all items) on their Statements of Economic Interest (SEI). Three did, and the table lists them in the order they appear in a PDF file. Because I’ve shortened both disclosure item descriptions and explanations in the table, a sample of an original…
Extended Comment on the Advisability of a South 4th Street TIF
I left a comment at DeKalb County Online in response to 5th Ward candidate Rob Fischer’s possible support for a new TIF. Says Mr. Fischer: TIF’s are one of the most powerful tools municipalities have at their disposal to renovate neighborhoods. My wife and I were just talking the other day about how the city…
Consolidated Elections and Political Parties
I do not consider it good campaign ethics for candidates for offices voted upon during consolidated elections, who filed using the “independent” paperwork, to campaign at specific political party events, which are most certainly anything but independent.
Municipal Election Petition Hearings
[Update 1/7/2011: I think I’ve been too subtle about my position on the municipal petition challenges and have corrected this in the comments today.] I was able to attend one of the election petition challenge hearings this morning, the one with Corey Kravitz as petitioner and First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson as respondent. Mr. Simpson…
Friends of Kish College
The referendum PAC called Friends of Kishwaukee College does not actually have many friends, but no worries: they’ve selected well-heeled ones. In its pre-election report, 10 donors contributed $29,950. More contributions of $500+ have continued to roll in, including $10,000 from Demonica Kemper Architects of Chicago, for a grand total greater than $60,000 from about…
Williams Architects & DeKalb Park District
Williams Architects Ltd. completed the pool facilities conditions report for the DeKalb Park District that led to the creation of a political action committee (PAC) and a $15 million referendum on a new water park for DeKalb. Because of our experience with ReNew Our Schools PAC’s having obtained contributions from the architect and the bond…
Post-Election Open Thread
For election judges at the NIU Rec Center, here’s how Election Day played out yesterday: From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., 856 people came in to use the Campus Recreation Center. In the same amount of time, 2 people came to vote. By 6 p.m., the total was up to 3 voters and one more…