Letter to the Editor

Letter: Rep. Conroy's Bill to Eliminate Forest District Commissioners' Salaries is Disingenuous

If she really wanted to make an impact, her bill would propose eliminating all politicians' salaries, including her own. HB2377 is based on false assumptions.

I couldn’t agree more with Rep. Deb Conroy (D-46, Elmhurst) when she says in her April 3 letter to the editor that elected officials have an obligation to lead by example and do their part to fix out-of-control, unnecessary government spending. But it’s disingenuous of Rep. Conroy to pretend that she’s fixing out-of-control, unnecessary government spending when her sole focus is the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, one of the most productive local taxing bodies in the state. The Forest Preserve District has a AAA bond rating, clean audits and a financial surplus that helps provide taxpayers with high-quality services that bring value to the entire DuPage community. With more than 25,000 acres of land in 60 forest preserves, 600 …

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George P

11:05 am on Saturday, April 13, 2013

You are naive to think the elections in DuPage are not "rigged" by the partisan DuPage Co. Election Commission! Don't you know this is why the DuPage computers went down on election night? They needed to manipulate the results before posting them. DuPage is not corruption-free. Not even close. I tire of the comparsion to Cook Co. How about comparing DuPage to Lake Co.? DuPage Forest Preserve is …   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Letter: State Rep. Deb Conroy is Not in Favor of Eliminating DuPage Forest District Board

Two bills are pending and confusion has arisen regarding the intention of legislators.

There has been a lot of discussion and misinformation regarding the pending DuPage County Forest Preserve legislation that has been proposed by State Rep Deb Conroy. Let me make this clear: Rep. Conroy's legislation will not eliminate the Dupage County Forest Preserve. I have spoken to Rep. Conroy about this issue and she believes that the Dupage County Forest Preserve serves a key role in preserving our beautiful parks here in Dupage County. Her bill (HB 2377) would create a ballot referendum that would put the elimination of the board's compensation and benefits to a vote of the citizens of Dupage County. There is another bill (HB 2479), proposed by Rep. Dennis Reboletti that would eliminate the Dupage County Forest Preserve Board and …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: Never Forget that DuPage County Officials Have Set Their Sights on Our Open Land

Forest District commissioners must fight to keep DuPage Forest District separate from the County Board or risk huge step backwards to 1988.

I am reading about this Deb Conroy (D-46th Elmhurst) legislation to eliminate the DuPage County Forest Preserve District commissioners' pay and the bill to move over their responsibilities to the DuPage County Board members. This does seem like a huge step backwards in time, to 23 years ago.   In 1988, the County Board commissioners and committees eagerly thought that an incinerator on Forest Preserve district property would solve their revenue problems. I became a Board Member of CHASE, the citizens group that fought this county plan, and then the "Landfill Beyond our Lifetime" plan. The idea 21 years ago then was to fully separate the County Board from the interests of the Forest Preserve District lands so that the county could not make …

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Robert Kolb

1:22 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Jim- I couldn't agree more! Term limitations, would largely eliminate complacency, the possibility of fraud, and backroom (good ole boy) dealings. I think adequate compensation should be paid for these positions, so that they are meaningful. Unopposed political races in our city are sad, and disease the good government process. Robert K Kolb, Candidate for 5 th Ward Alderman   more ›

Bill to Eliminate DuPage Forest District Commissioners' Salaries Passes House Committee

Salaries and benefits of up to $80,000 per commissioner may be nearing an end.

Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Deb Conroy (D-46th, Elmhurst) to eliminate the salaries and benefits of DuPage Forest District commissioners and chairman won the approval of a key House committee last week.   The House Counties and Townships Committee approved House Bill 2377 with a 3-2 vote. The bill will head to the full House for consideration. Who are the DuPage County Forest District commissioners? The proposal eliminates the salaries and pension, dental and medical benefits given to the Forest Preserve’s chairman and six commissioners. In DuPage County, commissioners meet once a week and receive a base salary of $53,500. With benefits, each commissioner costs the taxpayers up to $80,709.50. Forest district commissioners in …

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Jim Court

1:35 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Will the political intrigue never end? I have to wonder if we would not be better off placing qualified citizens in these positions, keeping them for one term, and if they have done an excellent job, allow them to serve in an advisory capacity. This way we keep the talent yet do not allow anyone to gain the incumbent advantage, personal gain, or become a power broker. We really need ethical …   more ›

Legislators Turn Their Attention to DuPage Forest District as a Way to Save Taxpayers Money

Reboletti wants to disband the Forest Commission, Conroy wants to get rid of commissioners' pay.

State Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-45th) of Elmhurst last week sponsored HB 2481, which would dissolve the DuPage County Forest Preserve District Board and transfer the responsibilities of the Forest District to the DuPage County Board in 2016. In response late Friday, the DuPage Legislative Committee scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 26, to discuss the bill. "Before legislation of this magnitude is voted on in Springfield, I think it is important that all sides of the issue are explored," said Legislative Committee Chairman JR McBride in a prepared statement. "While I am open to the idea of a study to analyze a possible merger, I do not believe this bill has any merit until due diligence has been given on the subject." Reboletti …

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Dave

10:25 am on Friday, May 17, 2013

Agree 100%. Let Conroy go without her paycheck, perks and benefits that are breaking the back of Illinois taxpayers. As an state representative, she is just a "part-timer" as well.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Letter: Treat Every Day as if It's a National Day of Service

State Rep. asks all to pitch in to improve our communities.

This past weekend, volunteers across America participated in the National Day of Service and selflessly gave back to their communities. From volunteering at after-school programs to picking up litter in a state park to countless other worthwhile efforts, we would not be the nation we are without the kindness and generosity of the unsung heroes among us.   There was simply no better way to honor Dr. King’s legacy than by recognizing the National Day of Service on the weekend before Martin Luther King Day, for our commitment to bettering our communities is rooted in the American ideal and a true testament to a nation committed to furthering the ongoing struggle towards justice and equality. Dr. King’s pursuit of ending intolerance and …

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State Rep. Deb Conroy Invites Religious Leaders in her District to Offer House Invocation

Conroy (D-46, Elmhurst) says religious leaders from throughout the district are welcome to come to Springfield say the morning prayer.

State Rep. Deborah “Deb” Conroy (D-46, Elmhurst) is inviting local religious leaders to visit Springfield in the months to come. “I encourage all local religious leaders interested in offering the invocation at the House of Representatives to contact my office,” she said in a prepared statement dated Jan. 16. “Delivering the morning prayer is a unique opportunity for clergy from communities across the 46th District.”  Each day the House of Representatives is in session, a religious leader offers a short invocation to bless the Legislature as it attends to the people’s work. Conroy will send out letters early next week to clergy members in her district, offering them the opportunity to lead an invocation. Over the next few months, clergy …

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Deb Conroy Defeats Dan Kordik in 46th House Race

Conroy wins the seat convincingly according to unofficial results.

With all 75 precincts in Illinois' 46th House District reporting, Deborah O'Keefe Conroy has defeated Daniel Kordik by 5,317 votes. Conroy, a Democrat, is an artist and former Elmhurst Unit District 205 School Board member. The 46th District includes a portion of Elmhurst's west side, as well as parts of Addison, Oakbrook Terrace and Villa Park. More information can be found on the Daily Herald website and the Suburban Life website.

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Dave

1:06 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012

Any candidate who engaged in a campaign as deceitful and dishonest as Conroy ran deserves no respect. Ironically, after Conroy lost her second bid for the District 205 School Board, she wrote in these pages that her opponents were "bullies." Yet her campaign against Kordik, a decent and honorable man, was characterized by pure Chicago machine-style thuggery. If you look up "hypocrite" in the …   more ›