Category Archives: Politics

Freeport City Council to Consider Ordinance to Eliminate City Legal Department on Monday, April 4

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The Freeport City Council will be meeting on Monday, April 4, 2016 at 6:00 pm at 524 W. Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor. You can watch it live on Comcast Channel 17. 

One of the more interesting items on the agenda is the ordinance to eliminate the City’s Legal Department. In the last 40 years Freeport’s population has not grown, but the size of City government has continued to grow. 40 years ago Freeport did not have a legal department, but retained private counsel for the City’s corporation counsel. Today we have a separate legal department with a full time corporation counsel, a part time attorney retained to prosecute ordinance violations, and other attorneys retained for “specialized” legal work. Of course, there is the need for office space, equipment, and support staff, all at taxpayer expense in city hall. Every time Freeport hires more firemen, policemen, and other city employees, it is not just the cost of the salaries. You must add on the present benefits for each employee plus the cost of retirement benefits. The State of Illinois is on the verge of bankruptcy due to the horrendous pension obligations incurred by state government, and the City of Freeport is headed in the same direction. Any time you can outsource government work, you normally will save money in the long run. This would certainly apply to the City’s legal department. The City’s legal department should be eliminated. It is luxury the taxpayers of Freeport cannot afford.

If the citizens of Freeport are interested in seeing the real cost of certain employees of the City of Freeport, go to the 2014 – 2015 Total Compensation Report for City Employees over $75,000

Click to access FY_2015%20Wages%20and%20Benefits%20for%20City%20of%20Freeport.pdf

For the complete Council agenda go to

Click to access A20160404.pdf

Illinois Primary Election March 15 – Your Vote Does Count.

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 On the Republican primary ballot there two races that are particularly important to voters in Stephenson County. Carl Larson should be retained as State’s Attorney. He has demonstrated by his exemplary conduct of the office that he should be given a full term. John Vogt, his Republican predecessor in this office, has unequivocally endorsed him. The voters of Stephenson County should do the same, and elect Carl Larson State’s Attorney.

The other important race is for Circuit Judge, and James Hauser should be retained as a judge in Stephenson County. Andrew Smith in the Illinois State Bar Association poll received a NOT recommended rating. James Hauser in the same Bar Poll received a recommended rating. In contrast two former, retired Stephenson County Circuit Judges, Barry Anderson and Theresa Ursen, have recommended James Hauser for Circuit Judge. Again, the voters of Stephenson County should do the same, and elect James Hauser Circuit Judge.

Thank You ComEd – I AM SORRY!

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  It’s nice to know that ComEd is concerned about our energy usage. Too bad this company has money to burn on those ridiculous energy reports pitting neighbor against neighbor. I for one want to know who those efficient neighbors are so I can visit them and cool off.

Looks Like No Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Our Senior Citizens on Social Security in 2016 – But Don’t Worry Illinois State Retirees Will Not Sacrifice!

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While retirees on social security have received little or no increases in benefits in recent years, Illinois state retirees in the generous and bankrupt State of Illinois have continued to receive annual 3% increases. In fact retirees on social security received no increase in 2010 and 2011. See http://time.com/money/3903601/social-security-interest-rates-2016/

When the rest of the country suffered during the great recession, Illinois state retirees continued to see their benefits escalate. Many State retirees after a few years of retirement are making more than they were making when working at their state jobs. No wonder they all want to retire at 50, and move to Florida to collect their Illinois pensions while working at new jobs! Oh well, let’s increase taxes in Illinois. We all want our state retirees to have a comfortable retirement in Florida. 

Illinois and Cities in Northwest Illinois Lose Population – But Illinois Is Leader in Real Estate Taxes!

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 Rockford, Illinois leads the State of Illinois in population decline. See http://newsroom.niu.edu/2015/05/26/illinois-population-shifts/ The State of Illinois leads the nation in population decline. To make matters even worse, the majority of the loss is attributable to people moving to neighboring states such as Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri. If they all were going to Florida, you could at least understand that they like Florida winters better than winters in Illinois! Illinois is a leader in one category – real estate taxes. It is a close second to New Jersey which has the highest real estate taxes in the country. See http://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-property-taxes/11585/ I have faith in Illinois – it will soon overtake New Jersey!

 Winnebago County (Rockford) does lead within the State of Illinois in one category – Real Estate Tax Rates! See http://www.rebootillinois.com/2014/03/13/uncategorized/brendanbond/list-residential-property-tax-rates-illinois-county/2303/

 Do you think there is a correlation between high real estate taxes and population decline?

Freeport Voters Reject Failed Policies of the Past!

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What does it mean when in every contested race for the Freeport City Council the voters rejected the incumbents?   The answer is simple.   The citizens of Freeport do not like the present direction of the City, and they want the new council members to be a positive force for change.   Mayor Gitz has had a “rubber stamp council.”  The present Council was incapable of constructive criticism of the Mayor’s policies, and blindly followed the Mayor’s lead.   For Freeport to move forward, the Council must actively promote policies which will help Freeport.  

 

In the meantime, watch the old Council in action on April 20, 2015 at 524 W. Stephenson Street, 3rd floor.  If you have Comcast Cable, go to channel 17.   Let’s just hope no action will be taken at the meeting by this lame duck council that will adversely affect Freeport.  That’s probably too much to hope for!

It’s Time for Changes on the Freeport City Council – Vote for New Leadership on April 7!  

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The City of Freeport cannot afford to continue the present approach to the issues facing the City.   Freeport needs leaders – not followers who will continue to support and promote the failed policies of the past.    For that reason vote for change by supporting the following candidates for Freeport City Council:

 

Andrew Chesney for Alderman at Large – Although he has no competition, he should be supported.  We need young people like Andrew to challenge the failed policies of the past.

 

Peter McClanathan in the 2nd Ward – Peter will listen to the people of the Freeport and not rubber stamp the polices of the Gitz Administration.   The present alderman, Shawn Boldt, has one solution to every problem – more taxes!  

 

Art R. Ross in the 3rd Ward – His opponent, Ronnie Bush, has been on the Council for 20 years.  Let’s thank Ronnie for his service, but let’s face it.  Ronnie Bush and most his fellow alderpersons have failed to address the problems facing Freeport.  Give him and the other incumbents another 4 years and Freeport will be joining Detroit in bankruptcy.

 

Jodi Miller in the 4th Ward – Jodi knows what it takes to run a business.   This should not even be a race.  Jennie DeVine, her opponent, has done nothing during her years on the Council unless you count wishing her constituents “happy birthday.”  She can do that from her home! 

 

Patrick R. Busker in the 5th Ward – Again, this should not even be a race.  Dennis Endress, the present alderperson, is in the same category as Jennie DeVine except he says absolutely nothing at most council meetings.    What has this man done during his term on the Council?   The answer is simple – NOTHING.

 

How Many Times Must the Voters of Stephenson County Say NO?

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 The answer is simple.   If there are not changes on the Freeport School Board, this question will be put on the ballot at every election until it is passed.    Vote NO and then vote for changes on the Freeport School Board.   Tell the candidates that Freeport cannot afford a higher sales tax or higher property taxes.  To make matters even worse, the City of Freeport led by Alderman Tom Klemm and Shawn Boldt would also like to see the City’s portion of the sales tax increased . More taxes are not the solution to every problem.  Taxing bodies must live within their means.  

Tax and Spend Shawn Boldt Must Go in 2ndWard – City Needs New Leadership on Council

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 Shawn Boldt’s solution to every problem facing Freeport is more spending coupled with more taxes.  Boldt is quoted in the Journal Standard saying he would like to see tax increases on services.  What does that mean?   A special tax for police services, fire services, street cleaning, and snow removal?   Boldt is part of the problem.   Boldt helped create the mess Freeport is in and now he wants to spend and tax the City’s way out.  We need new people like Peter McClanathan on the Council.  Peter was not part of the problem, but will be part of the solution.

On Presidents’ Day 2015 The Country Misses Ronald Reagan!

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IMG_3933Ronald Reagan never forgot his roots in rural Illinois when he was President. President Obama has spent six years as President apologizing for being an American. Ronald Reagan loved America and never apologized for being an American. Ronald Reagan never apologized for America’s Judeo-Christian values. President Obama, while radical Muslims are killing Americans, equates American Christians with radical Muslims. It is sad, but true. We now have a President who golfs after it is announced that radical Muslims have again slit the throat of an American. President Obama’s image may never be added to to Mt. Rushmore, but I am sure his picture will be displayed prominently in every mosque around the world!