Kirchenberg Opposes "Pay-to-Play" Contracting at DuPage Forest Preserve
Photos
DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioners accept unlimited campaign contributions from companies doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. This is unethical and should be illegal!
One of the worst offenders is incumbant District 2 DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioner Joe Cantore. Cantore accepts unlimited campaign contributions from companies where he has voted to approve "no bid contracts" - contracts totaling MILLIONS of our tax dollars.
“Accepting any campaign contributions from any companies doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is unethical. It should be illegal” states Don Kirchenberg, candidate for Forest Preserve Commissioner, District 2.
“I have not and will not accept any monies from any company doing business or seeking to do business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.”
These donations were reported to the IL State Board of Elections. Don Kirchenberg explains “the recent contributions to Commissioner Cantore from his fundraiser held in October will not have to be reported until year end. Here are enough examples that show a bad pattern that we believe is wrong.”
- Cantore reported $2,800.00 in campaign contributions from Kuhn Mitchell Moss a Naperville law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Kuhn Mitchell Moss in an amount exceeding $640,000 for legal services.
- Cantore reported $1,000.00 in campaign contributions from Chapman & Cutler a Chicago law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Chapman & Cutler in an amount exceeding $175,000 for legal services.
- Cantore reported $900.00 in campaign contributions from Day & Robert PC a Naperville law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Day & Robert in an amount exceeding $325,000 for legal services.
- Cantore reported $750.00 in campaign contributions from Wight Architects and its owners. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Wight Architects in an amount exceeding $300,000 for design work for development (new building, etc) at Willowbrook Forest Preserve.
- Cantore reported $850.00 in campaign contributions from Christopher Burke Engineering. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Christopher Burke Engineering in an amount exceeding $150,000.
- Cantore reported $350.00 in campaign contributions from Coffman Truck Sales owner Frank Coffman. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Coffman Truck Sales for the purchase of truck parts in an amount exceeding $30,000.
The State of Illinois made it illegal for state officials to accept campaign contributions from individuals and companies seeking to do business with the State.
Why hasn't the Board of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County adopted an ordinace to prohibit these types of pay-to-play contributions?
sn't the Board of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County adopted an ordinace to prohibit these types of pay-to-play contributions?
Ref:
http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/ContributionsSearchByAllContributions.aspx
Don Kirchenberg
12:43 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
"Pay to play" sounds like a friendly concept but it isn't because it is the bad practice of accepting unlimited campaign contributions from companies that do business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is "pay to play." "Pay to play” is why Rod Blagojevich, George Ryan and others are in prison. "Pay to play" is why IL politics and government is looked down upon and ridiculed across the world. Our Forest Preserve District and our Commissioners should not be involved in "pay to play" because it is unethical and should be illegal. I have not and will not accept any campaign contributions from any companies that are doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. Please pass this on by sharing.
Bill Angel
9:14 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hey DK,
As long as contributions are disclosed, it is perfectly legal and ethical to accept political contributions from anyone in Illinois. Madigan wrote the bill.
You know, or should know, that professional contracts do not require competitive bidding as you suggest. Go get a job!
If you were in the real world you would know that negotiated professional contracts bring qualified (RFQ) firms who bring huge value and expertise for each given task.
I take total offense to your negative campaigning. We have some great people employed at the DFPD both democrats and republican's alike.
Stop trying to tear down others to build yourself up. I'm told you don't even own property in DuPage county!
Bill
3:07 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Did you know that Dewey Pierotti accepted campaign contributions from the managing partner at bond issuer firm Robert W. Baird and just recently (Jan 24, 2012) voted to have Baird as the District's bond issuer, provide financial advice, price and issue bonds?!
Baird's fee? 0.8% of the offering price of the bonds issued.
Not only did Dewey vote "yes" he advocated to increase the bond issue by $10 M.
Contibutions to Dewey make their way to the Commissoner's coffers on a regular basis... in effect, all of the commissioners accepted campaign contributions from a bond issuer and financial advisor. Shame.
DuPageCountyWatch
7:17 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
To Bill Angel - Why does it matter if someone owns a home or condo or simply rents to be qualified per your negative comments about negative campaigning? Renting or owning a home or condo doesn't matter to us before we decide whether or not we want someone to represent us as our Forest Preserve Commissioner.
We need someone like Don Kirchenberg on the DuPage County Forest Preserve District Board as Commissioner in District 2. He has shown many times that he is willing to do the hard work and ask the tough questions to help protect our trees, trails and trail users. As our Commissioner he will work hard and will NOT take a pension. In addition he will work to reduce their salaries of over $53,000 to $25,000 for these part time positions. We encourage everyone to get more info at citizensforkirchenberg.blogspot.com
DuPageCountyWatch
8:08 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
We juat watched the video of Don Kirchenberg at the LWV debate. Unfortunately Cantore did not show up like so many of the Forest Preserve meeetings he misses!
Get more info at the Youtube video of Don Kirchenberg at the LWV debate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWtPi49cRtY Don Kirchenberg is the one we are voting for and he is correct no one should get rich from public service!
Dan F.
4:35 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Kirchenberg absolutely believes he is not worth the going rate?