Senger defends herself against McGuire attack ads

It is tragic that Dianne McGuire's campaign choose this path. This is not what her campaign should be about.

If Democrats want to represent this community, then they need to realize using Karl Rove's playbook isn't the way. I know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in this case, it will cost Dianne the election. All the money, all the hard work Dianne has done, will be wasted because of these two ill conceived mailers.

The first mailer talks about Senger voting to approve a plan to give millions in tax breaks to a wealthy real estate developer. Then goes on to accuse her of taking tax dollars away and give them to property developers forcing homeowners to pay higher taxes.

What they are talking about here, (incorrectly) is the Water Street Development approved in 2007.

I was intimately involved with the Water St. Dev. proposal I spent hours studying it, speaking against the density, and was unhappy it was approved as submitted for land use reasons. Nick Ryan owner of Marquette Properties, was the developer and is a contributor to Senger's campaign.

The charges revolve around the TIF that was granted. However, it was not a blighted area TIF where the funds go into the developers pocket as an inducement to build. Rather it was a conservation TIF and the money $21- $26 million, went to pay for infrastructure improvements, river walk construction costs, and I think some of the garage cost. This is a public private partnership project, with a new shared garage, and significant river walk improvements. See the following

http://www.naperville.il.us/emplibrary/TIF_Redev_Plan_10-04-07.pdf

Bottom line. Developer was not enriched by the TIF. Additionally, yes, the tax abatement of the TIF will reduce the property taxes paid for 20 some years, but the city gets additional public parking spaces, new infrastructure (utilities) and a extensive improvement to the riverwalk. This makes far more sense, and is eminently more justifiable than the Cantera TIF which was a blighted area TIF and the developers got discounts as an enticement.

The second mailer, I believe, is incorrect regarding Dalrene's opposition to abortion in all cases. In today's article Senger stated she supported allowing abortions in the case of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. So, once again, the mailer looks to be inaccurate. The Sun should chase down the source cited in the mailer and verify or debunk it.

Dianne needs to apologize, and area Democratic leaders need to realize that this only serves to damage their desire to see Democrats represent this area. Which I personally think would be a good thing. There is a growing number of Democrats in Naperville, and Dem's such as Glenn Schneider of years past served his community well.

I feel that your article about the state representative campaign was biased. The manner in which you reported the incident was one of sensationalism. I'm disappointed in the Naperville Sun. Dianne McGuire will make the kind of representative that Naperville needs in our state legislature and you should have given her equal space.

Yes, we received the ads and found them to be offensive -- because of the lack of substantiation for the allegations.

We don't watch or attend every council meeting but we watch a lot of them. Ms. Senger is one of a few members of council that is not a rubber stamp for developers' proposals. On the other hand, there are a number of popular councilmen who very, very rarely vote against a developer's request. City staff is equally disposed to approve developer's requests.

It seems to me that we've spent a lot of time and effort over the years to develop master plans and zoning rules for the greater good. The fact that these carefully developed and deliberated plans are all too frequently changed at the behest of developers suggests one of two things: either our efforts to develop these plans was poorly done or perhaps there's more to the changes than meets the eye. The council's reaction to Ms. McGuire suggests that perhaps (and I stress the word "perhaps") she has touched a nerve.

In any event, Ms Senger's record suggests that she is one of the more independent members of council and Ms. McGuire's unsupported allegations have allowed us to make an easy decision in the election. Ms. McGuire will not be getting our votes.

Politics is dirty in itself. I'm not condoning this behavior, but it reflects our society which is slowly peeling away morals.

I just don't agree with one pile of dirt being called dirtier than another pile of dirt.

I support neither, politicians are crooks.

T.H. well said, this negative literature full of bogus information will do nothing to further the democrat party. What an insult to voter's intelligence that there was a follow-up mailer. How about the candidates focus on real issues that are important to all of us in the community as opposed to what we are exposed to presently. It is time to take the high road!

I received both of these mailers and found them to be rather malicious. Before receiving them I was not sure which candidate I was going to vote for. Now I am leaning AGAINST Dianne McGuire. I don't believe these types of accusations should be leveled lightly and I really don't believe they have any place in local politics.

Like Senger has any right to take the high moral ground here. Pleaaaase!

Politics is dirty business. Just look at the presidential race. Nothing is sacred. One side always exploits the other for whatever gain is possible and for the benefit of whoever might be listening.

The news media loves the dirt and mud slinging and is fast to report and sensationalize it because it means big bucks to them. Citizens are gullible and get sucked into the same old gossip trap every time.
People on both sides are always stupid enough to think that the negative crud is always going to help their side and harm the other. What a load of donkey kong!

Fact of the matter is Senger has been one of the most useless city council members in recent years. When she is there all she mostly does is take up space. Total lack of leadership on important issues, goes along with the majority once it is clear, and hasn't done anything to lower taxes or introduce a piece of municipal legislation that is worthwhile during her entire term. And now she has aspirations for a higher office? I can't think of worse or more useless candidate quite frankly. The problem is that the hack republican party puts forth Senger as the candidate so who are we loyal republicans supposed to vote for?

On one hand we can vote for a whack job of a democratic candidate or we can vote for a totally useless republican candidate. And is there anyone out there who still doesn't understand why many voters have stopped voting and have grown apathetic to elected officials?

If this is the best we have to choose from with candidates I guess I will join in and pass on this race at least as I would have difficulty living with myself if either one of them got elected.

This type of negative campaigning speaks volumes about the candidate. Don't think for a minute that Ms. McGuire didn't know about the negative mailings. I hope and pray that the residents of the 96th District will see through the mud slinging and distorted facts and elect Darlene Senger state representative of the 96th District. She has a proven record of fighting for what she beleives in and what is best for her constituents. We need someone who will stand up and fight for us in Springfield. Not someone who will fall in line with the non sense that is playing out on a daily basis in our state capital.

I am appalled at the campaign literature being distributed in the 96th District. Whether it was the candidate (McGuire)or the Democratic party is irrelevant. If nothing else, it demonstrates to me that McGuire does NOT have the leadership skills to stand up for what is acceptable. By not condoning such literature this candidate does not display the morals/values which would represent me. A change is needed in our State government - I see no change based upon this candidate's actions and I am tired of political mud slinging.

Specifically in response to the "allegations" regarding the Water Street Development Project including the TIF - talk about sleazy untrue accusations! I was one of those very active in regards to this project when it was before both of Naperville's Plan Commission and City Council - this candidate was not. After numerous discussions with councilmen (including many with Senger), while I had (and still do) a difference of opinion regarding portions of the project - the allegations are false. Senger is NOT a "developer's" candidate - she is a representative of all of "us". She listens to the facts and opinions, weighs the options and makes decisions on what she believes is in "our" best interests. I recommend looking into not only the voting record but also the time and effort that goes into the decision to cast such a vote. Senger does her homework.

To Mrs. McGuire: put a stop to such tactics and move forward solely on the issues.

Wow was I disappointed in Dianne McGuire. She had my curiosity piqued and I began to become even a little pleased in seeing something that resembled the organization of the Naperville Democrats and support for a possible leader. I saw signs pop up in the neighborhood. I met Dianne when she came into my office – once – briefly to promote herself. It was almost exciting. I was raised believing in the Democratic Party as my father as well as his was an old school blue collar Chicagoan. What I equated that label to mean is that *we think for ourselves and we do what is right*. With politics the way they are, I went independent. I believe in looking at the person rather than looking at the party line. This means that we have to muster the self-esteem to stand up for what is just and equitable and brave enough to not fall into party-line traps.

What Dianne did made her to be the “extremist” by presenting such slanderous and shocking mailers. I know Darlene Senger and have known her for years as a very important volunteer in the community. She is a Very thoughtful individual and she has a Beautiful family. I know her to think things through, get things done and to be fair in her thinking. I certainly do not think by any stretch of the imagination that she wants to send women back to a time when women didn’t have rights. If that were the case she wouldn’t be a working mother herself and she certainly wouldn’t be running for public office. And I do not believe her to be a puppet for anyone. If anything, she is perhaps over worked and over working herself because she does have serious issues she cares about deeply. It is unfortunate Dianne felt she had to slander an opponent to bring herself forward. It certainly doesn’t reflect something Barack Obama would ever do and isn’t he our new Democratic Party role model? WWBD? Eh? Perhaps Dianne has nothing substantial to base a platform on herself? I look forward to the debate on Wednesday. The Naperville Democrats Still Have a Long Way to Go! They really should hang their heads in shame. Very disappointing.

Who cares? I do.

Not all politicians are "crooks." And, crooked ones should be exposed and dealt with by the voters (and if laws are broken, by the appropriate authorities).

Winning at all costs is not acceptable behavior.

This is apparently not the first time Diane McQuire has been involved with questionable tactics. (If I have been misinformed, I would be happy to have someone let me know otherwise.)

It has been reported that during the last District 203 School Board election, she formed a so-called parents group ("PURE") in which she was the only member. It is my understanding that $30,000 of funds from the teachers union was given to this "group" which produced several mailings that went out to District 203 homes in support of the three candidates endorsed by the teachers union. At least one of the mailings accused the Taxpayer Coalition of wanting to hire bus drivers that were sexual predators. In addition, there were unfounded accusations, among other things, that the Taxpayers Coalition wanted to ban books.

A few days before that election, a bashing phone survey against the Taxpayers Coalition also took place within the District 203 community. Was she a part of this as well?

Persons certainly had their reasons to vote against the Taxpayers Coalition. But, some of the behind the scenes practices that were involved, including actions of Diane McQuire, were underhanded and should not be tolerated in non-partisan (or even partisan) elections.

In fact, on this blog last year, the moderator said that although the Naperville Sun endorsed the three union-backed candidates for the District 203 School Board, it would not have done so if it knew about the PURE group and Diane McQuire's misleading behavior. However, The Naperville Sun, to the best of my knowledge, did not discuss this in their print editions of the newspaper, so only a few bloggers read the posting by the Sun's blog moderator.

Would you expect anything LESS from Dianne McGuire?

As a Naperville Teachers Union member, she was the mastermind behind the union Fraud on taxpayers back in 2007. She set up "People United for Responsible Education" to launder union money to elect the union candidates.

Check out the web site

http://www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?id=20566

The firm McGuire hired for PURE? FAKO (what a name).

Who is running McGuire's campaign (per her campaign disclosures)? FAKO

Who supports FAKO? Mike Madigan

What does Mike want? DOUBLE INCOME TAXES ON ALL NAPERVILLE RESIDENTS TO WASTE THE MONEY IN CHICAGO!!!!!

Now you know the REAL Diane McGuire!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A point of fact easily verifiable by looking at City Council minutes.

On Nov 6th, 2007, Naperville City Council voted to approve the Water Street Development, the subject of the Democratic Party of Illinois mailer attacking Senger. Far from being in the pocket of the developer, Senger,along with Bob Fieselr were the only two Council members to vote against the proposal!

Kinda hard to make the case that Senger's corrupt when she voted against the developer, and the contribution by the developer was after the vote. As stated by others, Darlene has been one of the most resident oriented council members in recent memory. Frankly, one could wonder if Ryan and the other developers contributed to her campaign simply to get her off City Council.

As far as the TIF vote, it was held on Dec 4th, 2007. The vote was 9 to 0 in favor. Darlene can probably explain it better but I suspect the reason why she and Fieseler switched and voted yes is because the project was a done deal, and this was the best way to finance the public improvements. I was told they are closer to $10 million and not the $21-26 million I had stated previously.

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

Q. Did you receive one of the ads?
A. I probably threw it out with the discount Pizza and dog grooming coupons.

Q. What do you think?
A. Democrat Dianne McGuire must be desperate and behind in the polls

Q. Do you go too far?
A. With the high price of gas, I'm trying to consolidate my trips to save fuel.

If the question is do I think Democrat Dianne McGuire went too far? The answer is no, I think she demonstrated what a vicious deceiver she really is. Hitler killed 12 million in camps, Stalin starved 20 million in the Ukraine, and Planned Parenthood exterminated 50 million in office parks. What is the count for clothes hangers, a few dozen in 100 years?

Q. Do you think they are fair?
A. Life is unfair, so should politics be. If anything, Ms. Senger should come out swinging and stop equivocating on her positions. It makes her look like she has no conviction in her positions at all.

Q. How well do you think the negative campaign strategy will work? Could it backfire, and end up doing more damage to McGuire than good?

A. The W. Horton ad worked because it was true, it demonstrated that Dukakis had policies that got innocent people killed. Is the ad true? Senger has to decide if she is pro life or not and stop hair splitting.

If rape, incest and child molesting are the problems, implement capitol punishment for the perpetrators and not the secondary victims. It might actually cut down on predation if you hang predators instead of turning them loose on the sheep. How may registered predators do we now have living within 20 miles of Naperville? Hundreds.

Q. Which candidate do you support in the 96th District race, and why?

A. Senger nominally, she is a decent person, intellectually capable, middle class and tries to do the right thing as she understands it. I don’t believe the local developers own her. While I support development, the City needs to stop acting like they are desperate all the time. Fix the budget and stop shafting homeowners.

The Democrats are in complete control of the State due to the statewide incompetence, moral turpitude, intellectual feebleness and probably corrupt state wide Republican Party officers and operatives. Given that the Democrats are already in full control of a State Government that it is having its own performance and ethics problems; there is little or nothing McGuire can bring to the party in Springfield that isn’t already being implemented including removing unwanted skin growths or exterminating humans on a scale previously unseen depending on you view abortion.

Those little fingers and toes are however hard to ignore. An inconvenient truth? Where is AL?

I thought there was only ONE person out there that understood the Water Street TIF--THOM HIGGINS. (Ms. Meyer, if you do, then two).

When this ad came out and explained in the newspaper, there was only ONE SOURCE--THOM HIGGINS. This reaction was just like 9/11 and the planes were crashing into the World Trade Center--Osama Bin Laden. First person who came to my mind and unfortunately I was correct.

So the Sun posts this comment and the first to speak--THOM HIGGINS.

BEWARE OF THE FOX--ONLY THOM HIGGINS COULD CREATE THIS DEVELOPER ATTACK ON SENGER.

It's just like the first person to the crime scene in many cases is the criminal. Next Higgins will point the finger at Dan D.

I do not care for either one of the candidate but Darlene Senger is on the city council for Naperville and I agree with previous comments that she is worthless. I have emailed her numerous times regarding issues and never received a response back so why would we want her representing us in Springfield.

http://www.dianne-mcguire.blogspot.com/

Read the blog above. It lays it all out very nicely. What I don't get is how does Dianne McGuire get away with filing all her PURE reports after all required filing dates and not be punished legally for it.

Look at PURE, the school board election was held on April 17th, 2007 and none of her required reports were filed until MAY 1, 2007. Someone should file a complaint with the State Board of Elections regarding her actions with PURE.

If Dianne McGuire can't file simple election reports on time she is not worthy of our vote to represent us in District 96. I am convinced she did it on purpose knowing she would suffer few consequences and she could keep the unions total backing of PURE in the dark and hoodwink the public into thinking it was a citizens group. Guess what? It worked.

Just remember, groups like QE203 run by Thom Higgins, and 203 school board President Suzyn Price were allied with these groups. Price has given money to McGuire's campaign. Just goes to show the kind of character these people have.

We are a neighbor of Ms. Senger and know her well, so I don't believe most of the attacks that we've seen from Ms. McGuire. I don't know Ms. McGuire personally, but at this point I can't imagine her being a viable candidate given that a lot of people do know Ms. Senger as she's been very active in the community for some time. Maybe Ms. McGuire will get some votes for those who really want a democrat, but that's a hard row to hoe in DuPage county. If you know anything about Springfield politics, I don't think that another Democrat there will really help right now.

The Sun is so wrong on this that I think Diane may have grounds for a libel suit and a slander suit against Darlene. These postcards did not come from her campaign they came from the Illinois Democratic Party (I actually read the fine print since I couldn't see Diane making such a gross error in judgement). Before I read the paper this a.m. I told one of her campaign workers to tell her to tell the IL party to stop, NOW!!!! This a.m. I got another postcard, this one from Diane's campaign, but it says none of the things quoted in the article.

Some fact checking on the part of the Sun would be nice next time. What a change that would be!

Beware of the Fox,

I just wondering, did you actually read any of my comments?

If so, can you help us all understand how my words resulted in your post?

Wow!!!!.... Naperville Sun what biased reporting.

Senger has a lot more to explain than why she switched her vote from no to yes in favor of the TIF.

Heck, the entire city council has some explaining to do with this nonsense. A so-called conservation TIF has specific criteria that must be met to qualify. In fact, to qualify as a conservation TIF a property must not be a "blighted area" but may be considered at risk to become a blighted area if it meets any 3 or more out of 13 criteria. Ref.: http://www.illinois-tif.com/Resources/Documents/consv.pdf

I'd like to see someone, heck anyone, on city council explain exactly which three of the thirteen criteria were met and their rationale on exactly why they think the criteria was met. The interesting question is when a city creates an illegal TIF district... what state agency has oversight or authority to stop it?

I've never seen such blatant misuse and abuse of government power before in Naperville. All to enrich some developers and at the same time the city and school district need additional tax revenue they want to go and give everyone buying into this "redevelopment" a bunch of tax breaks for a real long time.

Truth be known the city council got suckered into this so-called public-private partnership with the tease of additional parking. It's just a shame the city council can't collectively exhibit more restraint and common sense.

"Elect Dianne McGuire. After all, character and integrity have never been a prerequisite for working in Springfield."

Former teachers' union President, and current candidate for State Representative, Dianne McGuire is the lowest form of political candidate. Her campaign is built upon sleaze rather than ideas. If you've seen her IPACE paid for TV ads, she's also a left-wing IEA liberal posing as a fiscal conservative during election time.

The low road is not new to union activist, McGuire. Back in 2007, she helped the teachers' union create a shell organization called P.U.R.E. to campaign for the union's hand-picked school board candidates. One of McGuire's direct mail pieces implied the Taxpayer's Ticket would outsource bus drivers who could be sex offenders. Put ideology aside for just a moment. This ad combined with her latest garbage against Senger and you have one sick puppy of a candidate. There is no level too low for this IEA puppet.

There's a sickening irony to her expensive TV ads. She wants to reduce property taxes? Oh, really? As President of the teachers' union, she has led strikes and threats of stikes on numerous occasions...affecting the budget deficit that resulted in the 2002 tax referendum rip off and 50% higher property taxes! And now she's seeking votes from the very community she's been threatening for two decades?

No character. No integrity. No conscience. No shame. McGuire is the perfect candidate for Springfield!

The reason why our country is in the mess it is today is because of the republicans so if you want your children dying in an unnecessary war and spending your tax dollars to support the rich then I guess you would vote for Darlene. As a teacher for almost 30 years you have relied on Diane to educate your children and to spend more time molding them into the fine young people they have become. I personally have had two children receive a better education because of Diane so why wouldn't I trust her with our district. Get your heads out of your butts and except the fact that we need a change. Stop talking about it and do something.
VOTE FOR DIANE MCGUIRE

The character of Dianne McGuire should not be in question here, but the bias reporting of the Sun has always disturbed me. I just cancelled my subscription after living here for 30 years. Where is Dianne's voice?

We do not want the crooked Democratic Party of Cook Co. and/or the State of Ill. to get involved in DuPage Co. Darlene Senger has done great things for Naperville. Maybe, she can help turn our state around for the better.

By I am a mom too - Dianne may have grounds for a libel suit!!!??? Ha ha ha ha!!! That's the funniest dang thing I have read in a long time. The Sun did excellent fact checking. If you think Dianne McGuire didn't know and approve of these ads before they were sent then you are either incredibly naive or dumber than a box of rocks.

Dianne McGuire just got her butt handed to her but the Sun and rightfully so. Now that it's backfiring on her the backtracking and spin is starting big time.

Ms. McGuire you just lost yourself this election. Thank you. I appreciate your stupid political savy.

Thom Higgins wrote:

"As far as the TIF vote, it was held on Dec 4th, 2007. The vote was 9 to 0 in favor. Darlene can probably explain it better but I suspect the reason why she and Fieseler switched and voted yes is because the project was a done deal, and this was the best way to finance the public improvements. I was told they are closer to $10 million and not the $21-26 million I had stated previously."

It is my understanding, as well, that a TIF district does NOT result in decreased funding for any existing programs, including schools. So, even if she voted for the TIF, it's not true to say that this took funding away from schools.

I received a postcard today which was paid for by Friends of Dianne McGuire. There is no way I could vote for her now. They took the ugliest, greasiest picture of Darlene Senger they could find and plastered it on a huge postcard with propaganda on the back. I can't respect any woman who would do that to another. This attack is so bad it's funny (unless you are Darlene Senger).

The disgusting and vile material coming from Dianne McGuire is nothing new. During the school board elections in 2007, McGuire (i.e., PURE) sent out a direct mail piece that said the Taxpayer's Ticket would outsource bus drivers who could be sex offenders. Unfortunately, the Sun chose not to cover this filth back then. Well, you know what they say about forgetting your history. So here we are again. McGuire, again true to character, has taken the low road...the very low road. She'd fit right in in Springfield.

Old version:

I was just driving the car, I didn't know they had robbed the bank.

New version:

"By I am a mom too on September 24, 2008 12:46 PM

These postcards did not come from her (Democrat Dianne McGuire) campaign they came from the Illinois Democratic Party"

Well now that the democratic contender has addressed these mailers and the informational benefits of them, let me say a word or two. The voters in this district are not idiots, something I can not say for the publisher of these mailers. I would have thought that there would have been an explanation like an over zealous aid went too far, or there was a mistake. Since this is the type of propaganda this candidate endorses it will be very easy at the voters booth.. end of story!

This state is in dire straights financially and now our country. So what is brought up by Dianne McGuire? Abortion. Well Ms. McGuire, I have news for you. THIS ELECTION IS NOT ABOUT ABORTION!! People have much deeper concerns about what is going on with our state and the deep financial crisis facing our country along with the war and whole host of other issues. Abortion may be an issue, but it is definitley not near the top.

This state has been run by democrats for the last 6 years and they can't get along with each other so who in their right mind would vote one more in!

And to think she was my seventh grade reading teacher at Madison Jr. High many years ago. Good Grief!!

McGuire throws out a phony issue on Abortion because she is desperate. Ask McGuire what happens if the Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade? I bet most of you in here don't know what would happen.

Most voters are so uninformed their first response would be, "well abortion would be made illegal!" I got news for you, no it wouldn't. The issue would simply return to the STATES to decide and THAT IS ALL. It would not outlaw Abortion, the issue would return to where it belongs, to the STATES. If you think all 50 states would outlaw abortion then you haven't been a careful student of politics.

Basically McGuire's tactics are a total attempt to scare voters over an issue that few really understand.

John Q.Public

First lets remember the argument put forth with the McGuire mailer is that the developer was enriched by the TIF

From the mailer; "...voted to give millions of dollars in tax breaks to a wealthy developer".

Problem is that isn't true as the TIF money goes to pay for infrastructure and riverwalk improvements. The developer doesn't get any of this money as additional profit. This is key.

The problem with TIF's in general is they all, to a certain degree, "starve" the community of property tax revenue. The best example I can give you is the Cantera TIF in Warrenville, expiring next year I believe. For 20 some years D203 schools have not gotten their share of property tax revenue from those properties. Now that the TIF is expiring, D203 will use those new funds ($1 million a year?) to put toward the renovation costs. Had we been receiving those funds for the last 20 years would we have had to have as many operating referendums? or have the amount requested increase as much? No. And therein lies the problem.

The taxing bodies will loose the property taxes that go into the Water Street TIF. That money could go to helping fund the schools, city government etc. So in that sense TIF's do make residents ultimately pay higher taxes. But in this case, the city had to find a way to pay for the infrastructure improvements, and they chose a TIF. The schools were the big looser here, and the latest facilities referendum could have been less if the city had chosen a more traditional method of funding the expenses, and allowed the property taxes to flow to the schools.

For Anonymous on September 24, 2008 1:39 PM

Take a look here to read about the considerations and findings as it relates to the TIF.

http://www.naperville.il.us/emplibrary/Draft%20Preliminary%20Qualification%20Report%2002.22.07.pdf

http://www.naperville.il.us/emplibrary/TIF_Redev_Plan.pdf

"By Robin K on September 24, 2008 1:57 PM

1.
The reason why our country is in the mess it is today is because of the republicans so if you want your children dying in an unnecessary war and spending your tax dollars to support the rich then I guess you would vote for Darlene."

Robyn, the state of Illinois did not declare war, this is owned by the Feds. Dianne is running for a state office, not the US congress. Most of my tax dollars (19K) go to support the Naperville schools, lions share going to the teachers. By the Democrats' definition, anyone making more than 75K is rich so there may be some truth to your statement.

2.
"As a teacher for almost 30 years you have relied on Diane to educate your children and to spend more time molding them into the fine young people they have become."

Robyn, the school system assigned Diane to us, we have no choice over who we get for teachers or which school our kids attend unless we want to pay twice. I have never seen a report card for teachers that parents fill out.

Like most parents, I hope and pray my kids turn out well; but, our schools are not immune from all the problems and do produce some colossal losers and failures. If schools are responsible for a positive result, do they also bear responsibility for negative results?

So far I have seen nothing that defends the actions of Ms. Senger, the City Council, or City Staff. Making the Water Street area a TIF district was a flagrant abuse of the TIF law. TIF was designed to channel funding toward improvements in blighted, distressed, and underdeveloped areas where development would not otherwise occur. TIF creates funding for public projects that may otherwise be unaffordable to localities. To consider prime downtown river-side property in the City of Naperville blighted, distressed, and underdeveloped and in need of a government bailout in order to be developed is to take the residents and taxpayers as fools. And for Ms. Senger to say that "This went beyond me. This went to our city staff, our mayor and counsel." simply indicts the entire group for the TIF abuse.

Although TIFs are generally touted as tools to redevelop blighted areas, some districts are drawn up where development would happen anyway such as prime areas at the edges of cities. California has had to pass legislation designed to curb this abuse. This is clearly the case for the Water Street TIF. This is prime Naperville real estate not a blighted inner-city neighborhood.

And it is well documented that the process leads to favoritism for politically connected developers, lawyers, economic development directors and other implementers. Funding often goes toward what have been traditionally private improvements. Improvements that developers profit from. When the public "invests" in these improvements it is the developers that still receive the return.

And while it is true that Ms. Senger and Mr. Fieselr were both against the TIF before they were for it, to suggest that the $2,250 donation from Mr. Ryan was anything more than a “thank you” for a job well done is to defy credulity. To try and explain their flip-flop on the TIF by saying it was a done deal anyway so why vote against it is preposterous. If this were a legitimate argument then we would never have anything other than unanimous votes on the council.

And I would have to agree with Mayor Pradel from the Sun article that "There's nothing under the table here.". This abuse was carried out in complete daylight with full transparency, so arrogant and sure are the City Council and developers that they can do anything they want in Naperville with full impunity. And the TIF designation has enriched developers including Mr. Ryan. That is the whole purpose behind a TIF. To induce developers to develop blighted areas that they would not have otherwise developed. But again, to call the Water Street area in downtown Naperville blighted is ridiculous.

I have lived in this town a good long time and know first hand how things are done in Naperville. This is nothing more than more of the same.

Thom,

My understanding of TIF's is that the only money that is directed away from schools, etc. is that portion of the tax revenue that arises from the increase in value due to the property improvements.

Assume, by way of example, that District 203 gets $10,000 in property tax revenue from an un-improved property prior to the creation of a TIF. And, say the improvements on the property result in a doubling of the property's value. While the TIF is still in effect, District 203 would still get $10,000 per year; what the schools would not get is the additional $10,000 in tax revenue due to the doubling in the property's value. But since the property would arguably not have doubled in value were it not for the TIF-enabled improvements, the schools aren't being short-changed. And when the TIF expires, as with Cantera, the school district gets a nice, sudden increase in revenue.

Admittedly, the situation may not always be quite as win-win as I've described it. One thing I'm not sure of is if TIF accounting makes any distinction between the increase in property value due to improvements, and the "normal" increase that occurs as properties rise in value over time. If not, then the schools are missing out short term on some money that they would otherwise get (though conceivably getting this money and more once the TIF expires). Another, more troubling, possible drawback is that there is no guarantee that the property will actually increase in value. In this case, the taxpayers would be on the hook for the entire amount that was supposed to be funded by the TIF. This, of course, could also have negative consequences for the schools.

Please feel free to chime in with any enhancements to, corrections of, or animated disagreements with my explanation.

Respectfully,
-JQP

I find McGwire's ads to be in poor taste. What bothers me the most is the fact that she is a former teacher. As a teacher myself, I feel her negativity is very inappropriate and sets a poor example for the youth of our community -- the youth she claims to care so much about. I have no interest in learning any more about Dianne or what she represents. I am disgusted by her tactics, and her decision to run such a campaign speaks volumes of her character.

Thom Higgins is obviously up to his old tricks again. Maybe it was bad judgement for Darlene to accept contributions from these developers and contractors who do business with the city. It certainly does not "look good." But it was NOT ILLEGAL, and no matter what anyone says, DARLENE IS NOT CORRUPT. Day after day I keep seeing e-mails and posts from Higgins about this non-issue. He is obviously stirring the pot to call Darlene's character into question because of this one mistake that was NOT EVEN ILLEGAL. (Oh, yes, he is also "deploring" McGuire. La-ti-da.) Wake up and smell the coffee, folks.

Can anyone list 10 good reasons why any of us should vote for Senger?
Can anyone list 10 good reasons why any of us should vote for McGwire?

What have either of these ladies truly accomplished (as in on their own or through initiatives they personally started or led) in their lives to date that makes either of them uniquely qualified to be a candidate for which you or I should vote?

Or is this simply another race where picking a candidates amounts to choosing the lessor of two evils?

To Anonymous on September 25, 2008 1:12 PM

I must assume that you are operating in some alternate universe.

If you will read my preceding comments above here, and in the comment section below yesterdays article, it's abundantly clear that I reject any claim that Darlene engaged in pay to play politics, and go to great lengths to debunk the claim. It is my view that the claim is factually untrue. Actually it's not even a judgment call. Darlene voted against Ryan's project (one of only two no votes), and the TIF she voted to approve (after the project was approved) was not a blighted area TIF but rather is a conservation TIF to help pay for infrastructure and riverwalk improvements. Ryan did not benefit monetarily in any way, therefore there is no way to claim she did anything remotely illegal or unethical.

There is nothing wrong with accepting campaign money as long as it is legal. This is true whether Senger accepted a $2500 donation from a builder, or when McGuire accepts tens of thousands form non-Naperville unions.

John Q Public

Your description of how the property taxes in a TIF district works, vis a vis existing EAV, and the the resulting increase in EAV due to the improvements, jibes with my memory.

I think the rub lies here;

But since the property would arguably not have doubled in value were it not for the TIF-enabled improvements, the schools aren't being short-changed. And when the TIF expires, as with Cantera, the school district gets a nice, sudden increase in revenue.

It depends if you believe the TIF was necessary in order to spur the development. Personally, I believe that Cantera would have been built regardless (I beleive it was a blighted area TIF, but not 100% sure). And certainly the Water Street Dev would have been built regardless, as it wasn't an enticement, and further, the City had alternative avenues to finance the garage, infrastructure and riverwalk improvements. If you go back to the two links I provided above you will find the financing alternatives discussed. The city could just as well issued bonds as they have in the past.

So to me, as I believe that both developments would have occurred regardless of a TIF, I feel the taxing bodies, especially the schools got shafted. It's just the way it is, I don't loose sleep over it.

As far as your question relating to inflation affecting the pre improvement EAV, and hence the amount of non TIF property taxes paid going forward I haven't a clue. That's a question for Warren Dixon the township assessor. Call and ask him if your interested, He's a good guy, he'll tell you.

As an aside, I'll mention the Developer of Water St. agreed to pay the school district for the cost of any students living in the development.

Hope this helps.

Why is Ms. Senger so upset about the truth being told? Since when is telling the truth and getting the facts out a vile thing or a smear job? Ms. McGuire’s mailings, and those of the Democratic Party of Illinois, contain nothing other than publicly verifiable facts about Ms. Senger’s record and positions.

And while I do think that Ms. Senger would allow an abortion to save the life of the mother I still believe that she would make a criminal of a young girl getting an abortion after a brutal attack or the trauma of incest.

How did Ms. McGuire get away with filing her PURE filings on May 1, 2007 when the school board election was held on April 17, 2007? Isn't that blatantly illegal?

WHERE IS ALL OF DIANE MCGUIRE'S MONEY COMING FROM?

The Illinois Democratic Party
Unions of all types
And who knows, she will skirt the campaign laws just like she did with PURE.

WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE GIVING HER THE MONEY?

To double the income tax on all people making more than $75,000 per year. Simple. That is how the budget gets balanced. That is how the unions make money.

She talks like a Republican, then why didn't she run as a Republican? Because she wants to RAISE TAXES!!!!

Because as a teacher, she forced record tax increases. She wants to spread her work to the state government, increase taxes more.

By taking the State Democratic money, she must stand and hold hands with Madigan. HE WANTS TO DOUBLE THE INCOMCE TAX.

You do not hear her say she is opposed to the plan. She says no to tax swap. Great. She cannot say no to more taxes or the campaign money goes away. PERIOD.

AS A DEOMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, SHE TAKES THE DEMOCRATIC POSITIONS. If she believed in Republican positions, she should have run as a Republican. Or an independent.

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

So where is Sengers money coming from?

"...the taxing bodies, especially the schools got shafted." So the schools get shafted by a TIF? Oh, really? Would these be these same schools that got "shafted" by a revenue stream that has doubled to more than $210M in 11 short years while student enrollment increased by a mere 8%? Would these be the same schools that got "shafted" by a 50% increase in property taxes in the last five years? Would these be the same schools that got "shafted" because of teachers like Dianne McGuire whose strike threats resulted in salary increases of 63% over seven years, funneling money away from real educational needs like smaller class sizes and infrastructure? Would these be the same schools being presided over by a School Board President who not only orchestrated the lies of the 2002 tax referendum, but who also just happens to be a major campaign contributor to McGuire? The only people getting "shafted" in Naperville are the taxpayers.

This whole bruhaha is nothing more than a repeat of the 07 school board election. Once again, "Thom" Higgins portrays himself as the voice of reason - but then runs and hides behind the skirts of his friends in the unions and so-called "community groups" - all the while spreading disinformation and innuendo in his path. Some people refer to him as the "the fox." I think of him as "the spider."

Higgins brought down three good men in the school board elections in 07. Just a few months ago, he sabatoged the plans for redevelopment near the train station. Now he is plotting to bring down Darlene Senger (who, I repeat, has done NOTHING ILLEGAL at all) as well as guys like Ryan who have made our city what it is today.

Who cares if Darlene Senger took campaign contributions from these developers anyway? They have a great deal invested in our community, and they have the right to reward people who work with them and get positive results. There is NOTHING ILLEGAL about this. If anything, Darlene Senger should come back swinging and say that she is proud of getting the big bucks from the Big Bucks. At least she can work with people and get things done (unlike Higgins, who just grouses and complains.)

What a tangled web we weave, when the spider ("Thom" Higgins) once again sets out to deceive.

The most amazing thing about the Water Street TIF is that the incompetant 203 Board and Administration ENDORSED THE PLAN.

HUH?!?!??!

That is correct. Instead of voting no, they supported it.

WHAT IS DIANE MCGUIRE TALKING ABOUT? Where is the victim?

Whether it is a "blighted area" TIF or a "conservation" TIF this whole thing was still a dirty rotten sham.

All over the down town area developers are looking for buildings and lots that can be changed into a different or better use. The benefit from the construction and the city benefits plenty from the increased taxes on the newer more expensive structures. Economics 101 in play.

If you look at this conservation TIF the boundaries were very carefully drawn to include and exclude certain other contiguous properties. Then the developers actually tore down several structures creating bare lots, which formed part of the basis of justification. As is that wasn't bad enough it also lowered the existing taxes to that of an unimproved lot on at least 6-8 parcels. The taxes will be frozen at their current assessed tax rates for each of the parcels within the TIF for the next 20 some years.

If a typical redevelopment had taken place with these parcels there would already be new construction in place with higher assessed values and additional tax money flowing into the city and schools now and for the next 20 some years.

Everyone who buys into ownership of the proposed redevelopment gets a 20 some year tax break yet gets to live/occupy a brand new piece of residential/commercial property. This sure isn't exactly fair to the guy living across the street in a brand new house nor is it fair to a competing merchant a block away. Nor is it fair to the city or the schools who are loosing out on millions of dollars of real estate taxes for all of these years.

What a load of donkey kong the developer sold to our city council. Fact is developers never give anything away nor do they design projects to loose money. The so-called public-private partnership is a joke and the taxpayers are getting screwed big time on this entire deal. There is no free ride. The lure of getting a "free" parking deck out of this deal clouded what should have been clear, logical, and objective decision making. The developer is laughing all the way to bank because the city council and city staff was naive enough to fall for the sales and marketing pitch from the developer. Fact is the numbers are a sham, are based upon flawed projections, and simply wouldn't pass an accounting test must less a sworn affidavit. But there is the rub... projects like this get passed based upon the good old boy relationships and a wink and nod. Just like all of the sub-prime mortgages that are tanking there are no checks and balances in public projects like this to keep them from being approved.

And it is fundamental flaws at the base of our economy, multiplied times tens of thousands of other similarly structured projects in other cities across the country, justified by less than the full truth with a wink and a nod, which explain, in part, why our economic system is on the verge of collapse. If our elected officials are a serious part of our economic problems then who are we taxpayers supposed to look to or trust to actually fix these problems?

Well, it seems we have some people transporting in from an alternative universe.

All of my statements here, every single one, are in support of Darlene as I am extremely disappointed in the factually untrue character of the “pay to play mailer” sent by the Illinois Democratic Party attacking her. Any sentient being readily grasps that.

But of course, all the attempted bashing of me going on here has nothing to do with Darlene or this campaign. It’s all about the resentment that a few critics of D203 schools harbor against me due to my opposition of the Taxpayers Ticket attempt to take over the school board in 2007. They say as much above.

Allow me to sate how proud I am to have spoken out against a group that simply doesn’t believe in public education. Here in the potluck blog regarding the facilities referendum, Mike Davitt wrote these immortal words;

“I don’t hate teachers I despise them”

Call me old fashioned, but I firmly believe that a pre-requisite to being on a school board in a belief in public education and respect for teachers and administrators.

As someone who enjoys a good irony, I note that the very tactics on display in this campaign, that these critics are railing against, are very much that same tactics they are feebly attempting to use themselves here against me personally, and in the 2007 School Board election. They have met the enemy and it is them.

To By Tired of Incompency

It's more complicated that your simple sentence. There are specific rules and findings that the TIF review board has to follow. My memory is the JRB had three questions that they had to answer as to whether this TIF meet the guidelines set out. As it did, D203 had no choice in their vote.

So, this was not a vote on whether D203 felt granting the TIF was desirable. I have somewhere a Word Doc from D203 administration outlining their general misgivings regarding TIF's as it relates to school funding. If anyone is interested I could dig it up.

IN RE: By Thom Higgins on September 25, 2008 2:40 PM

Thom,

You know that the difference between a “blighted area” and “conservation area” TIF is primarily semantics.

I have read the TIF document for the Water Street Area TIF. Here is the exact section of that document explaining what a “conservation area” is:

“Conservation area” means any improved area within the boundaries of a redevelopment project area located within the territorial limits of the municipality in which 50% or more of the structures in the area have an age of 35 years or more. Such an area is not yet a blighted area but because of a combination of 3 or more of the following factors is detrimental to the public safety, health, morals or welfare and such area may become a “blighted area”.

A “Conservation Area” is an area that is detrimental to the public safety, health, morals or welfare but does not yet meet the technical definition of a “blighted area”. A “conservation area” must contain at least 3 of the following: Dilapidation, Obsolescence, Deterioration, Presence of Structures Below Minimum Code Standards, Illegal Use of Individual Structures, Excessive Vacancies, Lack of Ventilation, Light, or Sanitary Facilities, Inadequate Utilities, Excessive Land Coverage and Overcrowding of Structures and Community, Deleterious Land-Use or Layout, Environmental Clean-Up, Lack of Community Planning.

Even if the Water Street Area could qualify as a “conservation area” I cannot in all honesty believe that it should. Do you truly believe that this area of prime, river-front, downtown Naperville real estate would never have been developed without a bailout by the taxpayers of Naperville? Really?

And lastly, if the TIF district did not serve as an inducement to the developer, Mr. Ryan, than why have the TIF at all? I truly believe that Mr. Ryan, or another developer, would have developed this prime location area even without the TIF.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS SILLY SILLY TALK. IN THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES, WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE THE MRS SANGER WHO WILL STAND UP FOR BUESNESSMAN AND NOT BE ASHAMED. SHE KNOW THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL GET TOO MUCH MONEY ANYWAY. GOOD FOR HER. I SEND MY CHILDREN TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL. I AM NOT EVEN CATHOLIC. PUBLIC SCHOOL JUST WASTE OF MONEY. LEAVE SANGER ALONE.

Fred W.

It is my understanding that in a Blighted Area TIF the developer receives the funds from the TIF as an inducement to build.

In the case of Water Street the issue was "how do we pay for the public portion of the parking garage, infrastructure and riverwalk improvements."
My memory is that the developer picked up some of these costs which is typical, but you certainll can't expect the developer to pay for the garage, or all of the infrastructure and riverwalk improvements.

Bottom line; Ryan the developer was not enriched by the TIF. The TIF was used as an alternative funding source, and because of this, the argument criticizing Darlene fails.

Fred, seriously, read the documents I linked to above if you look you will find this discussion.

HIGGINS CAN'T GET IT RIGHT!!!!

District 203 (Jackie Romberg, Diane McGuire's friend) VOTED YES FOR THE WATER STREET TIF.

Just check the following minutes:

http://www.naperville.il.us/emplibrary/JRB%20Report.pdf

And Higgins said she had to vote yes? HUH!?!?!?! (What does Higgins do, is he also a corrupt lawyer?)

Look at Warren Dixon, a Republican from Naperville Township. NO VOTES ON ALL ACCOUNTS. Attorney Higgins, does he need to hire you to defend him from illegal acts?

I still say we should tear down the area around 5th Ave. Station. It's like a slum over there.

HIGGINS JUST DOES NOT GET IT!!!!!

Thom, the 2007 school board election is over. We are talking about Diane McGuire. She has run some raunchy ads, hidden her funding from Mike Madigan, and never says she is a DEMOCRAT (she does not claim to be the Demoratic candidate on her WEB SITE)!!!!

What is common with 2007 school board? Two clandestine groups emerged that ran similar raunchy ads, PURE and QE203. We now know that PURE was run by .....

DIANE MCGUIRE

She was a front for the Illinois Teachers union. She mastermind the LIE to the 203 taxpayers, masquerading as "concerned citizens." She fronted the money, LIED (hiring sex offenders--does not even pass the reasonableness test).

NOW, MORE OF THE SAME. I guess once a dishonest person, ALWAYS A DISHONEST PERSON. No matter what political party or position you take, it is essential to be HONEST and have INTEGRITY. Even Diane McGuire knows she totally failed this test. In fact, she seems to revel in this dishonesty.

By the way, why is she ashamed to be a Democrat? If she does not like the label, how can ANYBODY vote for her? Diane, we agree that Democrats are WRONG for Naperville, JUST LIKE YOU!!!!!

HIGGINS

Mr. Higgins is the main face of QE203. Where did he get the money to run his campaign? He spent at least $5,000 on ads and web sites, but only reported $700?

Did Diane McGuire collaberate with Mr. Higgins to mislead 203 voters? Don't believe that he is turning his back on her now.

DIANE MCGUIRE IS WHY THIS IS RELEVANT.

I am an Ojibwe brave visiting your city for the Naper Settlement Harvest Pow-wow. The elders back home always say beware. The city ways are not ours. I know why now.... Because Thom Higgins lives there, and he has a forked tongue.

As a lifelong and loyal Republican I regretfully have to admit that I can not in good conscience either support or vote for Darlene Senger.

Other than the fact that she purports to be a Republican and the party has decided to cast her on the slate there really isn't one, single other reason a loyal Republican like myself has to defend a reason to vote for Senger.

The truth be known she has had 6 long years to accomplish something, anything worthwhile while serving on city council. Instead she has pretty much been a tourist to the entire city council process, frequently less than engaged in council deliberations, and her biggest contribution to the city council could, at best, be described as taking up space. In hindsight it does cause me to wonder if all along she had aspirations to a higher office which may explain her indifference and lack of leadership or personal involvement in anything remotely controversial that has crossed the city council dias in the last 6 years.

Then in her 11th hour as a council member she decides to back the losing side of the EJ&J acquisition. Causes me to wonder... is Darlene just pandering to the few NIMBY voters who even care about EJ&J or is she really that naive about the national legislation that governs railroad acquisitions and interstate commerce? First rule of successful politics, never back the losing side.

Frankly, I've never been a big admirer of the Democratic party or what it supposedly stands for. However, in the case of McGuire I'm fed up to the point with local politics and local politicians that I'm at least willing to listen to her and learn more about her platform. From what I have read about her so far it does seem that she is out talking to citizens and knows more about what the issues are that concern Naperville citizens than Darlene. Just comparing the talking points from each of their campaigns clearly illustrates this difference.

Do I worry about too many Democrats in the state house? Absolutely. I guess I'm willing to risk one more Democrat in Springfield who actually is willing to get off her ass and do something for the people she is representing in our district than to vote for another Republican hack who hasn't accomplished one darn thing in 6 years and who doesn't give me a single reason to believe she is prepared to charge into Springfield ready to roll up her sleeves and do some real work for the people in our district.

Maybe next time around the Republican party will sponsor a candidate who is actually worthy of our vote. For this election I reluctantly take a pass on Senger. Yeah, I know there are those who will argue that Senger has experience and McGuire does not. I guess I'm willing to stake my vote on a fresh new face that is passionate about what she wants to do in Springfield over a supposed veteran who has accomplished nothing.

Regarding,

By Wrong Again on September 26, 2008 2:37 PM

And

By Just Does Not Understand on September 26, 2008 3:10 PM

I see it looks like Dan Denys has joined us, another one of the Taxpayers Ticket candidates.

So much here to debunk. Lets do it line by line;

HIGGINS CAN'T GET IT RIGHT!!!!

District 203 (Jackie Romberg, Diane McGuire's friend) VOTED YES FOR THE WATER STREET TIF.

This is exactly as I indicated, D203 voted in favor of the TIF.

BTW here are the three questions they voted on;

1. The Water Street TIF Redevelopment Plan and Project meets the objectives of the TIF Act.

2. The Water Street TIF Redevelopment Plan and Project meets the Plan requirements.

3. Water Street TIF Redevelopment Plan and Project meets the eligibility criteria.

And Higgins said she had to vote yes? HUH!?!?!?! (What does Higgins do, is he also a corrupt lawyer?

It was D203’s view that as they felt the TIF redevelopment plan met the objectives of the Act, met the plan requirements, and met the eligibility criteria, they felt they had to vote yes.

The corrupt lawyer comment is illustrative of Mr. Denys use of rhetorical devices to bash me.

Look at Warren Dixon, a Republican from Naperville Township. NO VOTES ON ALL ACCOUNTS. Attorney Higgins, does he need to hire you to defend him from illegal acts?

Yes, Warren voted no, the only one to do so. The only person who is interjecting that I'm supposedly claiming it was was illegal is Mr. Denys. The interjection of the fact that Mr. Dixon is a Republican is a red herring of course. Should we ask all the others who voted their affiliation? Does it matter?

By Anonymous on September 26, 2008 3:02 PM

I still say we should tear down the area around 5th Ave.
Station. It's like a slum over there.

Yes, and you say that because I live there. Such kind words…..

HIGGINS JUST DOES NOT GET IT!!!!!

Thom, the 2007 school board election is over. We are talking about Diane McGuire. She has run some raunchy ads, hidden her funding from Mike Madigan, and never says she is a DEMOCRAT (she does not claim to be the Demoratic candidate on her WEB SITE)!!!!

What is common with 2007 school board? Two clandestine groups emerged that ran similar raunchy ads, PURE and QE203. We now know that PURE was run by .....

DIANE MCGUIRE

was a front for the Illinois Teachers union. She mastermind the LIE to the 203 taxpayers, masquerading as "concerned citizens." She fronted the money, LIED (hiring sex offenders--does not even pass the reasonableness test).

Sigh, The amount of hyperbole here is amazing. PURE sent two mailers and did some robo calling. Deny and Davitt go on and on, about, and usually conflate, the following sentence into claiming that the mailer said they wanted to hire sex offenders. I report, the reader can decide;

"The Taxpayers Ticket candidates wants to outsource transportation and custodial services to private companies, losing the control to strictly screen employees for sex offenders and qualified drivers."

In that very same sense the issue of PURE being an illegal front organization is a gross misstatement. PURE was funded primarily if not completely by the Illinois State Teachers Union. Who, correctly in my view, saw the Taxpayers Ticket for what they were, a threat to public education in Naperville, Mr, Denys and Mr. Davitts words have proven to verify that opinion as correct.

Did PURE do anything Illegal? No. Did they do anything unethical? No, Are there a million groups such as PURE that don’t disclose on their mailers who is funding them? Yes. Did they file all the required disclosure forms? Yes. Do I personally they should have gone above and beyond and indicated the mailers were paid for by the Illinois Teachers Union? Personally, Yes. We wouldn’t be having this silly conversation then.

Raunchy ads by my group QE203.org? Absolutely not. Anyone can click on the link and see for themselves how we comport ourselves. Considering the anonymous hateful website operated in the past, and I believe currently, by Mr. Davitt, this is pretty rich.

Lastly this;

Mr. Higgins is the main face of QE203. Where did he get the money to run his campaign? He spent at least $5,000 on ads and web sites, but only reported $700?

QE203.org followed all rules, and filed all necessary documents in Springfield, which are available on line.

http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/

Did Diane McGuire collaberate with Mr. Higgins to mislead 203 voters? Don't believe that he is turning his back on her now.

This is the best. I supposedly collaborated with Dianne in the SB election (I never met or talked to Dianne until this year), and yet, although I have written openly critical comments regarding Dianne’s campaign, and fully supportive comments about Darlene, I’ve somehow still in cahoots with Dianne?

So you all really think anyone buys this? Seriously?

So, why all this commotion, and this lame attempt to link me to her and PURE.?

Because, Mr. Davitt and Mr. Denys are, unfortunately, so full of hate towards me, and to public education in general, (on full display in the many D203 threads here in the Potluck blog), that they stoop to this silliness. It’s rather sad.
.

The ends justify the means. It is amazing what some people stoop to.

Why does Diane McGuire hide that she is the DEMOCRATIC candidate? Why does she not promote her role as a teachers union leader in 203 that forced MAJOR TAX INCREASES? Is she ashamed of her past roles?

Why didn't she form "Unions United for Responsible Education"? Instead she pretended to be concerned citizens group. Why not promote the union label. Would that have turned off voters?

Anybody who defends such sleazy actions must not have any honesty and integrity as well. Just when you think this state has hit new lows with Ryan and Rezko, someone from Naperville stoops to even lower levels.

Thom,

Nothing in the TIF documents support what you are saying. None of the other developments in downtown Naperville support you argument. Barnes & Nobel did not get a TIF but they still built. Eddie Bauer did not get a TIF but they still built. BBM did not get a TIF for the Main Street Promenade but they built. The list can go on but I think you understand my point. So you are sticking to your story that the Water Street area of prime, river-side, downtown Naperville real estate needed a 20 year tax deal in order to be developed? Really? I’m sure you have your reasons to sticking with it. And I give you credit for constancy. The question remains why you would continue to claim belief in that story when it is so very clearly wrong.

Higgins should get some better friends. It must be tough to have to defend McGuire and Rezko.

The Taxpayer Ticket was not a threat to public education, they wanted to expand the school day, start foreign language in elementary schools, and get more feedback from parents and successful educational programs to improve programs.

No, the threat was to the TEACHERS UNION. That is why they spent money to defeat them. They did not want to live with reasonable salaries and accountability.

DIANE MCGUIRE IS THE TEACHERS UNION. If she wins, hold your wallets!!!!

Fred W.

I guess I need to understand which point you are arguing.

If you are saying that you feel the TIF wasn't necessary, as the city should have used more traditional funding mechanism's, I can appreciate your viewpoint. It certainly could have done so. However, the questions is what other funding mechanism would they have had to use to fund the parking garage, infrastructure and riverwalk improvements, as certainly the developer can't be expected to assume these costs. Lets remember he did pay a certain amount to these costs.

If you don't think the TIF was appropriate, what different funding mechanism do you think they should have used?

If you are saying that Ryan benefited from the TIF monetarily, then I categorically disagree with you, as if you read the documents it is clear the TIF was for infrastructure. My point has always been that Ryan was not monetarily enriched by by the TIF, (the basis of the mailers claim)

Another Taxpayer, regarding this comment,

Higgins should get some better friends. It must be tough to have to defend McGuire and Rezko

I have both criticized and defended Dianne. I call them the way I see them. And of course I've never made and comments regarding Rezko. The constant attempts to "smear" me by false associations is rather childish.

The Taxpayers Ticket wasn't a threat to public education?

When you have their leader saying he despises teachers, when Messrs Davitt and Denys constantly hurl false accusations, when you have hateful websites against teachers and the school board, it's a easy call to say that these men do not believe in public education and were very much a threat to D203.

When one considers that D203 students are at the top of the academic achievement scale, and that there is not one school district in the Chicago area where students achieve higher results at a lower cost (indeed, there are a host of districts of similar or higher socio-economic status, who spend more money than D203 does, and yet they do not achieve the results D203 does) it is clear that D203 does an exceptional job educating our children, and at a cost that is less than other high performing districts.

See the following;

http://www.qualityeducation203.org/20080205referendum/costperformance_mediasurvey.shtml

http://www.naperville203.org/about/ProudtoBe203.asp

Fortunately residents understand this. Davitt was removed from the school board, and the other two candidates were also unsuccessful. While Davitt and Denys along with a few supporters continue to try to make trouble, they were completely unsuccessful in sabotaging the recent facilities referendum. They can write their letters, host their anonymous websites, and post here either in name, or anonymously, but they can not change reality. And the reality is that D203, it's teachers, staff, administrators, and school board all deserve our respect and appreciation for the exceptional job they do.

Lastly, let me mention that at the debate last week both Darlene and Dianne, were effusive in their praise of Naperville schools. I also remember they both discussed the desirability of increasing education funding. Neither candidate would ever ascribe to the extreme views of Davitt and Denys.

Summary of the behavior of Diane McGuire and PURE
(per Thom Higgins Esq.)

Illegal...........No

Unethical.........No

Should union funding and responsibility have been disclosed.......YES

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I wonder if lawyer Higgins is really correct? And for that matter, what about his QE203?????

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!

I only hope Dianne McGuire can live with herself. She photoshopped a totally unflattering photo of Darlen Senger on one of her latest mailers.

I mean come on Dianne, did you have to stoop so low to photoshop photos now too. Oh one other thing Dianne baby, since you are such a big admirer of Abe Lincoln and his ability to be a uniter and not a divider, do you think Abe would have approved of the coat hanger in your ad? Did you really have no other way to get your point across?

I believe the voters in District 96 can see the crass, coniving person Dianne is and she will go down in flames on election night.

Hey Higgins you forgot to mention the anonymous Senger Secrets site. How come McGuire is hiding behind that one? I assume your disgust is equally directed at her too?

You all can try and rationalize McGuire as much as you want. You can attack Senger, you can make excuses that she is just trying to win in a GOP-weighted area. Try any of it --- nothing changes the simple facts:

> Mcguire's tactics prove beyond a shadow of a doubt for any rational human being that she is a vile person

>It is clear by her "platform" (which changes regulalry, I may add) that she is running in District 96 as a shill for the Democratic party

>Her advertising AND her interview with the Sun AND her forum comments highlight that Dianne McGuire has no understanding of the difference between federal and state laws.She was clueless as to how the 96th seat can influence (or not, in this case) Roe v. Wade

>It is also clear that McGuire is running on national Democratic party issues. Her tactics are to scare locals into voting her in on issues she would have absolutely no control or influence over (this is called "astro-turfing" in national campaigns, by the way)

>She will NOT represent our district (96th seat), but she will certainly work to advance the national platform at the expense of OUR district and OUR needs.

>In case I was unclear earlier, she ihas proven she is vile and unworthy of our votes. We can do better by looking in a sewer somewhere.

Thom Higgins on September 26, 2008 8:38 AM wrote "As someone who enjoys a good irony, I note that the very tactics on display in this campaign, that these critics are railing against, are very much that same tactics they are feebly attempting to use themselves here against me personally, and in the 2007 School Board election. They have met the enemy and it is them."

Can you please explain, sir, exactly what tactics were used in the 2007 election by the three candidates I believe you are referring to?

Please limit your comments, sir, to the candidates (like Mrs. McGuire), and not others posting on worthless blogs where no identification is required?

We would all be interested, sir, in the data behind your accusation.

I am quite very well involved in local actions, sir, and I received no campaign materials that even slightly approach the swill Mrs McGuire has distributed.

I believe you are basically misleading us on this blog in this area, Mr Higgins.

There is nothing from the 2007 election to compare with what Mrs McGuire is doing now EXCEPT her own actions in 2007 when the same Mrs McGuire deceived taxpayers, violated STate election laws, and used the same sleazy-type maneuvers to accuse yet other Naperville citizens at the time of vile, untrue actions that she was never asked to answer on.

Mrs Dianne McGuire has proven during the 2007 and 2008 election cycles that she will use any vile tactic, any lie, to win the election.

So I repeat. Mr Higgins: Please supply us with the

Her methods are to personally attack her opposition, totally incaring that they are our neighbors with families, children, businesses, et.al.

For Mrs McGuire, no lie is too big if it means she may get a vote.

So I repeat. Mr Higgins: Please provide us with these "same tactics" used by others in the 2007 election.

I am a normal, average taxpayer in district 203 and I will most certainly not be voting for the person who was responsible for all the threatened teacher strikes over the last several years.

Anonymous,

Try looking here,

http://www.qualityeducation203.org/taxpayersticket/index.html

This is the archive of the Taxpayers Ticket website from the 2007 election. As a small aside, I'll mention that at a candidate forum at Naperville Central HS, I chided Mike Davitt for the rhetoric on display on the website and he actually softened it up somewhat. Boy, do I wish I had had the presence of mind to archive those initial pages.

I also wanted to include the link to Mikedavitt.com for some additional perspective, as it has continued to be been live till now, but now suddenly it's down. Imagine that! Pretty sure I have it archived somewhere.

And then there is the hateful anonymous website thenuea203.org website that I outed as being registered to a Mike Davitt. After we outed it it disappeared. We also have that archived and will post it at some point.

Lastly, let's not forget http://hold203accountable.org

This is live as I type this. This is not only anonymous, but is registered anonymously (somebody's learning!). However, anyone who reads the Taxpayer Ticket website, along with Davitt's thenuea203.org and mikedavitt.com, Mr. Davitt's comments on various threads on this blog, and in his letter to the editors, can put two and two together rather easily.

MESSAGE TO ALL

The election is between...

Darlene Senger, the Republican...

and...

Diane McGuire, the Democrat.

Darlene did not "participate" in the 203 election. DIANE MCGUIRE DID. She singlehandedly was responsible for PURE, although I think she was also the bag man for the Union money to make this happen.

PURE is the only relevant aspect of the 203 election. And Diane McGuire has continued the deceptive actions to this election. Just like George Ryan, Rod Blagoivich, Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine.

Focus on CHARACTER. Fortunately for the 96th House voters they can see Diance McGuire for what she really is--a person that will do anything to win an election.

And Thom, I would rather lose than to stoop to Diane McGuire's low levels. You can rail on all of our positions, but we put them out their legitimately to be considered.

Mr Higgins,

Sir, do you actually even try to compare the McGuire swill with the website you sent me to? If so, you are less than what I thought you were.

I saw no lies, no vile, personal attacks, no references to hangar abortion things, nothing of that sort, sir! The two you reference above are mild expressions of data & thought. To even try and equate them to the vulgar trash spewed by Dianne McGuire and her disgusting campaign is an endeavor of futility.

You refer to other personal sites that are not part of the election process and have no standing in this argument, sir!

I have posted the entire website reference, bewlow, for all readers to make their own decision.

"Dear District 203 Resident:

The April 17 school board election truly is a TALE OF TWO TICKETS. One the on hand, you have the Taxpayers’ Ticket—three fiscally-conservative parents running as a ticket in response to a school district that has been treating taxpayers like ATMs for far too long. A ticket that will represent YOU! On the other hand, you have the Teachers' Union Ticket. A ticket that will certainly continue to represent THEM! Which ticket to choose? The choice is clear.

1. Spending has increased $100 million in 10 years with flat student enrollment!

2. The District misled taxpayers about the 2002 referendum and over collected $38 million!

3. Property taxes are up 60% in the last five years!

4. The District voted to extend 6% retirement bumps in each of the last four years of employment!

5. The District shows no empathy for the tax burden imposed on our senior citizens!

Make no mistake about it, excessively generous contracts takes money away from student programs and facilities. Six percent teacher contracts and 6% retirement enhancements do NOTHING to improve education. Folks, we are supposed to live within something called the property tax cap (which currently limits our revenue to 3%). A 3% raise is a dignified raise in today's world! Seniors are leaving Naperville because of taxes! We want to instill in District 203 the same discipline that households must abide by—living within their means and making the most of what they have.

The Teachers’ Union Ticket. Three candidates endorsed by the teachers’ union (Price, Jaensch, and Fielden). Actually, it’s really four candidates as S. Deutsch was previously endorsed in ’05. Make no mistake about it; this is as much a ticket as we are. The only difference is we have been up front and honest about ours; the teachers’ union prefers anonymity with theirs. REMEMBER, THIS IS THE VERY SAME TEACHERS' UNION THAT THREATENED THE COMMUNITY WITH A STRIKE IN 2005 WITH A THREE-YEAR 15% OFFER ALREADY ON THE TABLE!!!!!! Please see 7.2% Per Year! menu button. The Naperville Democratic Party is also endorsing the teachers' union candidates.

A group calling itself Quality Education 203 just happens to be supporting the very same candidates as the teachers’ union. What a coincidence. This group’s fear mongering is reaching near hysterical levels. We know at least one of its members has contributed to Moveon.org. Now this group has signs up saying the Taxpayers' Ticket wants to "takeover the District." Absolutely true. WE WANT TO TAKE CONTROL AWAY FROM THE TEACHERS' UNION AND PUT IT BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

Our goals are for District 203 to live within its means; return the ill-gotten taxes that were over collected; negotiate reasonable contracts enabling some money to be left over for student programs and facility improvements; improve upon our overall education by introducing fresh, new ideas; communicate in an open, honest, and authentic manner; and restore the community's trust.

On April 17, you have a choice of two tickets. One ticket will represent YOU. The other ticket will continue to represent THEM. The choice has never been clearer."

Mr. Higgins: You blog too much and say too little. "Eloquence is the power to translate a truth into language perfectly intelligible to the person to whom you speak." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mr. Higgins, what about Ms. McGuire's anonymous website attacking Darlene Senger. Where is your faux indignation about that site?

What about PURE not filing ANY reports until May 1, 2007 with the State of Illinois Board of Elections? Was that legal Mr. Higgins? Are you upset about that too?

Anonymous,

The entire taxpayer Ticket website is there, You reproduce only the title or index page. All links on the side are operative. Please review the entire site.

If you look through the site it is self evident that Davitt and Denys were attempting to mislead voters by claiming a false and corrupt relationship between three of their opponents and the teachers union.

The "pay to play" mailer is also claiming the very same thing. A corrupt relationship between Senger and developers, where none exists.

Further, Davitt and Denys claim, without truth or proof, that QE203.org was covertly working with the teachers union. Categorically untrue, and again attempting to mislead by claiming a corrupt relationship where no relationship existed at all. Here's the relevant quote;

Quality Education 203 is endorsing the very same candidates as the NUEA. What a coincidence! The teachers' union simply does not have the guts to come out and openly acknowledge who they have endorsed, so they work covertly with an organiztion using the classic "it's for the kids" strategy by coming up with a name like Quality Education 203. After all, who could be against a quality education? Pathetic and deceitful.

As far as the other web sites, as they are the product of Mike Davitt they certainly relevant as is Mr. Davitt's stunning revelation earlier this year.

"I don't hate teachers I despise them"

Context is everything , so yeah, the words of Mr. Davitt and Mr. Denys stand to indict them in the community. They have to take ownership of, and responsibility for, them. And as I indicated above they are guilty of the very same tactic that they now rail against Dianne for. Perhaps that's why they are so angry.

I note that Mike Davitt has stopped by to bash me a bit. Allow me to reproduce a personal comment I made to Dan Denys recently as it applies to both of them equally.

With apologies to P.D. James; To my mind, words and actions define a man. It is your words and actions that have served to define you to the public as someone who is supremely uninterested in making a serious and truthful argument. This, as much as anything else, is what doomed your school board candidacy. Regardless, once written, here in these blogs and elsewhere, your words, with their reckless disregard for the truth, allow for no possible excuse, or justification; there is no acceptable explanation. Your words tell the world, “This is who I am”. They stand unalterable and unforgivable. Sincerely, I do not understand how you can be so blind as to not see how terminally damaging to your credibility your statements have been.

I will say this in Davitt's and Denys defense. They mostly post under their own name. I respect that. I don't respect anonymous posters that attack others. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I personally think it cowardly to attack someone here anonymously or host a web site anonymously.

Speaking of that, com'on Mike, you always like to talk about integrity. Have the integrity to put your name on Hold203accountable.org.

One final comment. You all seem unwilling to accept the fact that we share some of the same feelings regarding the mailers. I have written extensively here about my unhappiness. Now, you guy's are over-hyping the issue big-time as you always do, but I also think the mailers were a wrong, and the "pay to play" mailer factually untrue. I'm not defending them, why are you guy's so angry at me?

http://www.district203.blogspot.com/

When is the Naperville Sun going to finally investigate PURE and expose Ms. McGuire's illegal campaign reporting last year? McGuire was the treasurer of PURE and she failed to file reports on time with the state as demonstrated in the blog above.

Why is the SUN giving McGuire a pass on this issue? Come on SUN do the right thing and report on this before the November election. You dropped the ball on PURE last year during the district 203 school board election, now is your chance to correct it.

Anonymous,

Here's what we reported about PURE and McGuire more than a year ago:

Newspaper: SUN PUBLICATIONS
Date: 08/10/2007
Day of Week: Friday
Edition: THENAPSUN
Section: LOCAL NEWS
Page: 19
Headline: Newest board member endorsed 203 president


In determining who it would appoint to fill its vacant seat, the
Naperville School District 203 board gave second interviews to eight
applicants selected from a field of 24 residents.

Four of those applicants - Jeff Couch, Nancy Drapalik, Karl
Fry and Jackie Romberg, the board's selection to fill the post
- have had their names appear together in The Naperville Sun
prior to the onset of this selection process.

How so?

In half-page advertisements that ran April 15 and 16, their names
were listed among about 300 others who were urging readers to
"re-elect Suzyn Price," the current board president,
during the April 17 election. The ads were paid for by Friends For
Suzyn Price, who, according to state campaign finance disclosure
information, raised $6,868 for her campaign.

- Tim Waldorf

Follow the money

Former District 203 board member Mike Davitt and challengers Jerry
Buch and Dan Denys - the fiscal conservative trio known as the
Taxpayer's Ticket in the spring election - spent
$13,780 on their unsuccessful bid to win the board majority. Divided
equally, the trio spent about $4,600 a piece to finish fourth, fifth
and sixth, respectively.

The other candidates in the race - winners Mike Jaensch and
Terry Fielden, and seventh- and eighth-place finishers Steve Deutsch
and Fred Lu - did not report to the state, meaning they did
not collect or spend more than $3,000 on their campaigns.

Then there's the Naperville Unit Political Action Committee
for Education - the PAC representing the interests of District
203's labor unions. According to state records, it spent
$32,920 during the spring election filing period. That's
$3,928 more than it collected.

Where'd all of that money go?

NUPACE gave $23,500 to People United for Responsible Education. Led
by former NUPACE treasurer Dianne McGuire, PURE's stated
purpose, according to state records, was to "support endorsed
candidates." Those endorsed candidates, according to state
records, were Price, Jaensch and Fielden. According to state records,
PURE spent $22,500 for the services of Fako & Associates.

NUPACE also spent $7,500 on Fako & Associates' services.

What did that $30,000 buy from Fako?

According to state records, it bought NUPACE "poll analysis
and consulting," and it bought PURE "mailings."

Ted,

Thanks for the reprint. But I will make simply two comments.

1. Fako (what a name), a small business spent $30,0000 to send out three mailers in late March or early April. Did they do that without any financial commitment whatsoever from a new entity with no money called PURE? Of course not. They were guaranteed payment through either IPACE (the state teachers union) or NUPACE (the Naperville teachers union).

According to state law, a campaign needs to disclose its organization within 5 days of incurring more than $3,000 in expenses or having loans or contributions greater than the same amount. Had PURE filed this form on or about April 5, 2007, we all would have known that PURE was not a blue ribbon public interest group looking out for the interests of the people of Naperville, but rather a front for the union (we all know who Diane McGuire is, Kay Acklin is a teacher at Hinsdale Central).

With two weeks before the election, we would have had time to identify what this group really was. And who knows if it would have changed the outcome.

So your artile is very factual but superficial. It did not go into the details and mechanics on how it effected the election. As to illegality, that is for the State Board of Elections to decide.

2. As you can see, the entire PURE issue is once again relevant since it involves Diane McGuire. More significantly, her entire approach to HER election is VERY similar to PURE. It should be, Fako is running it.

But look deeper. SHE NEVER MENTIONS THAT SHE IS A DEMOCRAT. (By the way, this might backfire since people will not find her on the ballot.) But who is behind all of the money in her election? Don't know yet. But we do know that Fako is involved. Did you ever check out the key supporter of Fako? Micheal Madigan.

Why does Michael Madigan care? Simple. He needs a net increase of four democratic representatives that will give him a veto proof majority in the House. It also gives hime the votes to call for a referrendum on a graduated income tax (the specific plan is to double the income tax on people making over $75,000). He could not pass this measure since no Republican would vote for it.

This is the story. Not just covert campaign tactics to mislead the voters. A hidden agenda that would voters would reject. Another tip, it is bigger that McGuire's race. More races are being targeted. Do the research.

The most important news item--both Chicago baseball teams have made the playoffs. I was fortunate to be at both "clinching" games. I even wore black tonight to cover my true Cubby blue (by the way, a convert in the last 15 years as well).

I have just one comment in general and to Higgins directly. I think these blogs let us outline our thoughts and positions. These blogs are like the Speakers corner in Hyde Park, London. We can say our mind including being a bit brash. But we have to respect that others have different opinions.

I reflect on my posts, they express my opinion, are based on information that I have compiled. They reflect how I view the world. Period. In fact, I try to go beyond what most will do, trying to see what the other opinion is and see if the real difference can be isolated. Why? Because the best class I had in college was a class on negotiations at Northwestern. Specifically, it stated that disagreements (or differing positions) can be successfully resolved by looking at why each person takes a position and you can isolate the real factors that cause disagreement. Will people simply agree? No. But they will discover that people generally agree more than they disagree. And they will be more tolerant about each others positions.

I am not going to go into detail on all of the comments being raised, but I find it amusing that Thom Higgins has to bash Mike and myself. What is he (or the people behind him) afraid of? We are just two normal guys who are trying to make a difference.

And I think that despite losing the elections, we have made a contribution. Everyone's tax bill would have been at least 5% higher had the District taken the extra $7 million (each year, not one time) that the 2002 referendum would have allowed. I was pleasantly surprised that the District will use exsiting taxes for the first year of the bond program. These are significant results of OUR EFFORT (and it is more than Mike and myself). In fact, 203 has been more careful with spending since our involvement. Aren't we all glad that they are not in a shambles like the City portion of the tax bill. Hold your wallets!!!!!

But during this entire time, I have noted MANY MORE areas where improvements can be made. My children will not benefit from them, but future children could (in fact, Thom Higgins daughter). For example, I am glad that the Naperville Central math team now has opportunities that were not there before I mentioned them. I have not totally research the topic (since I was not elected), but another two years have gone by and foreigh language in elementary levels are just an experiment. I was stunned during the campaign that the bus schedule forces the shortest school day among peer schools. This should have been addressed by now.

Excellence comes by constantly examining how you do things. But Thom, I do not need your preaching or judgement, I do not need your misrepresentations about my professional life. We do not need your name calling. Stick to the points. By the way, I really do want to understand what your "argument" (I believe point of view would be more civil) on the pensions, I really do not get it.

And if I got personal, I apologize to all. Sometimes when you are constantly and wrongly discredited, you can lash out. But please note, I am only apoligizing for any comments that go beyond being brash!

I was re-reading this thread a bit tonight (boy do I need to get a life!) and the inescapable conclusion I come to is how utterly overblown the complaints are regarding PURE.

Allow me to ask the critics a few questions.

1. You claim illegal acts. What specific act or acts are you alleging were illegal? What verifiable proof can you offer to back up your claim?

2. Much has been said about the two mailers sent out by PURE. Will you please quote exactly from the mailer the language you feel is offensive?

3. Do you have any other specific claims against PURE that you can substantively make a case for?

From a global perspective here is how I see it. I believe any reasonable person who reads the Taxpayers Ticket website (archived here, and please note the tabs on the left all work.)

http://www.qualityeducation203.org/taxpayersticket/index.html

Or goes to this current website http://hold203accountable.org/Home_Page.html
Which is registered anonymously, but I believe is the work of Mike Davitt, or take the time to search the D203 threads on this blog for Davitt and Denys’ posts, will come to the inescapable realization that these men hate and yes, despise, the teachers and administration of D203. They do not believe in Public Education. It’s all there on display.

When Mike Davitt recruited Dan Denys and Jerry Busch to run as a ticket they were intent on taking over the school board. Now, I ask anyone who takes the time to read all of these men’s words, to tell me how any sentient being would vote for them understanding just what they believe in.

Teachers, being understandably concerned once they realized the threat of having these men in control of the school board, responded by forming a group, very late in the election cycle I believe, called PURE (People United For Responsible Education) in order to defeat them.

So everyone understands during the same election cycle a group of parents and residents came to the same conclusion regarding these men, and formed QE203.org of which I am the Co-Chair. There was zero relationship between the groups. We studiously maintain our independence.

PURE did two mailers, and one live phone survey to gauge voter sentiment. I previously mentioned a robo call. As I remember that was done by the Taxpayers Ticket, although it’s getting to be a vague memory there. I do remember getting one of the PURE mailers on Wednesday, the day after the election.

Now, I will say I still have both mailers around somewhere and the only offensive statement that Davitt complains about is this;

"The Taxpayers Ticket candidates wants to outsource transportation and custodial services to private companies, losing the control to strictly screen employees for sex offenders and qualified drivers."

It was one of some bullet points and was hardly the focus of the mailer. I’ll let he reader decide how they feel about it.

To me, PURE committed one “sin” In light of the hyper animosity of the Taxpayers Ticket against teachers and the union, they erred in not simply putting a disclaimer on the mailers. Had they done that, we hopefully would have avoided all of this silliness.

In addition Mr. Denys seems exercised about the timing of certain events relating to PURE. My only comment here is, we know nothing more today than we did in the spring of 2007. If Mr. Denys feels they acted illegally, he must have felt that way in 2005. Was a complaint filled? If not, why not? Why did he not make a complaint with the Ill. State BOE?

I write all this as I do think it’s important to understand the context here, and also reflect on how incredibly fortunate we are to have such an exceptional school district, and how close we came to loosing it at the hands of these men.

I have children in two D203 schools. I have talked to those teachers, and have neighbors who are teachers in D203. It is not even a slight exaggeration to say that had these men succeeded, there would have been a mass exodus of teachers from D203. And considering how highly regarded the district is they would have found ready employment in neighboring towns who would consider themselves fortunate to have them.

One of my proudest moments in my life was when Davitt lost his re-election bid and Denys and Busch were also unsuccessful. I value this school district and the education it provides my children. I am far from alone here. This is something that both Dianne McGuire and Darlene Senger share. If you attended the debate, you will have heard both of them speak glowingly of our schools and staff.

I’ll also add these links for anyone who hasn’t seen them. I urge you to take a moment a read about the exceptional world-class district that D203 is.

http://www.naperville203.org/about/ProudtoBe203.asp

http://www.qualityeducation203.org/20080205referendum/costperformance_mediasurvey.shtml

Finally, let me end referencing the very first post I made at the very top of this thread. The mailers sent out by the Ill. Democratic Party on Dianne’s behalf were extremely ii-advised. The “Pay to Play” one is factually incorrect. Darlene Senger, who I know well, is a highly regarded City Councilwomen, and a lovely person. There should not be a place for this kind of politics in Naperville. But the Sturm und Drang on display here over PURE because a few people are unhappy at the 2007 school board election results is complete hyperbole.

to Thom Higgins on September 30, 2008 4:01 PM;

You posted “..Davitt and Denys were attempting to mislead voters by claiming a false and corrupt relationship between three of their opponents and the teachers union”

Mr Higgins, Sir! You are incorrect with the facts and misleading to all who read you here.

It has been well documented, sir, that the Teachers’ Union of the State of Illinois AND the Teachers’ Union of 203 were very involved in that 2007 election of Board members.

The late filings are very clear on this point of fact, sir.

Though the filings were illegally tardy, they do show that the Teacher Unions laundered over $30,000,000.00 dollars into the election through Dianne McGuire’s PURE organization to the direct and stated benefit of the three candidates you refer to Jaensch, Fielden, & Price). This is the same Dianne McGuire who is now performing the same corrupt methods to immorally trash yet ANOTHER Naperville citizen in yet ANOTHER Naperville election where yet AGAIN Teacher Union money is attempting to steal our very own election!

I repeat, sir, this relationship exists, was very well documented, is a point of fact and law. The State election Board is already working on this case.

SO, MR HIGGINS: I CHALLENGE YOU TO SHOW THAT THIS EXACT PROOF DOES NOT EXIST. ANYONE CAN GO TO THE FILINGS AND SEE FOR THEIR VERY SELFS. NOTHING AS I STATE ABOVE IS INCORRECT OR WITHOUT PERFECT PROOF.

You are wrong on these facts, sir, and you owe also the readers here an apology for trying to mislead us as you know all very well that the claims are true! Shame on you, sir!

Dan,

I’m sorry, but to say you had any impact on the districts decision regarding the 2002 referendum implementation, or the districts HS math curriculum, simply because you made these an issue, is like saying that the Cubs and Sox’s are in the playoffs because you were there. Or, said another way, Correlation does not mean causation.

As far as your ongoing critique regarding school days and foreign language, these are old charges you dredge up from time to time.We have debated them endlessly, so I will offer up as a rebuttal the two links I posted above, that illustrate the excellence of this school district. Can it improve? certainly, but when you realize the bargain D203 is, considering what it spends, and what it's students achieve, you need to accept this reality and stop attacking the district as you have done previously in these bogs.

I also reject your contention that I have mis-represented your professional life. What specifically is your charge?

I'll second your comment about you getting a little too personal. I am entirely willing to stand by my comments that are, almost universally, in response to the rather outlandish statements you make at times. If you want a more respectful discourse you need to walk the walk. If you will do that, it will facilitate a more productive discussion.

Anonymous,

Here are some quotes from the Taxpayers Ticket website;

The three union-endorsed candidates (Price, Jaensch, and Fielden) are also a "ticket." The only difference being the union is being sneaky and covert about it. Openness and honesty, or hidden agendas? The choice is clear.

WE WANT TO TAKE CONTROL AWAY FROM THE TEACHERS' UNION AND PUT IT BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

Teachers' Union Ticket. A ticket that will certainly continue to represent THEM! Which ticket to choose? The choice is clear.

Our ticket will represents YOU, the taxpayer. Their ticket will represent THEM, the NUEA

The union seeks board members who will will place the interests of the union above all else (and for the last 10 years they've succeeded).

If is a verifiable fact that the Taxpayers Ticket ran as a ticket with a single campaign committee, as opposed to Price, Jaensch and Fielden who ran completely separate campaigns with separate campaign committees. And yet the TT clearly is telling voters that their three (four actually) opponents were running as a union ticket ( Indeed, one of the tabs is “the union ticket”), and were covertly running to represent the teacher union members and not the community. Considering the excellence of the board members elected, and the exceptional achievement of school district they oversee may I say what a load of complete made up crap this all is.

As I have stated before, (and you take such umbrage with), what is on display here is the exact same tactic used in the “Pay to Play mailer, (that I also take exception with), that of attempting to mislead voters by claiming a false and corrupt relationship where there is none. The similarities could not be more clear.

Regarding this statement;

It has been well documented, sir, that the Teachers’ Union of the State of Illinois AND the Teachers’ Union of 203 were very involved in that 2007 election of Board members.

Yes. They absolutely have the right to be involved, as did QE203.org, or yourself. But the fact of the union endorsing them does not in any way shape or form mean that once elected these people will run the SB for the benefit of the teachers and not the residents. You are apparently claiming as they endorsed these candidates, and ran ads on their behalf, then by definition the SB will run the schools for the benefit of the teachers and not the residents. Pretty tough argument to make legitimately when you consider the excellence of this district.

BTW QE203.org endorsed the same candidates and ran ads on their behalf. Does this mean they will do whatever I want too?

Regarding these statements;

The late filings are very clear on this point of fact, sir.
Though the filings were illegally tardy, they do show that the Teacher Unions laundered over $30,000,000.00 dollars
I repeat, sir, this relationship exists, was very well documented, is a point of fact and law. The State election Board is already working on this case.

Are you claiming that a formal charge has been made with the ISBOE? Please tell us exactly what the charge(s) is(are). Can you scan in the document with any and all charges so we all may see it? In that same vein you claim laundering. As all funds are disclosed on the D2’s how can you make this charge?

Good Lord Higgins how can I make it any clearer what my complaint about Dianne McGuire and PURE is all about. Ok, I will make it simple for you and the SUN to understand (sorry Ted, but you guys are dropping the ball on this big time).

The election was held on 4/17/07. PURE didn't file ANYTHING until 5/01/07. DO YOU NOT SEE HOW ILLEGAL THAT IS?? MY GOD OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE, how the hell do I make it any CLEARER!!!!

ALL THE PROOF IS HERE at the blog below!!!!

http://www.district203.blogspot.com/

Here is the ABSOLUTE PROOF.

http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenhunter009uw8.jpg

DO YOU GET IT NOW!!!!!

You have to file your stuff LONG before the election NOT 13-14 days AFTER the election. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW.

Now SUN if you were on the ball you'd be blasting McGuire with this evidence BEFORE the NOVEMBER election. Get off your butts and provide the public service of informing your readers of the FACTS like you are supposed to.

Mr Higgins, sir!

My argument is not about the qe203 you keep referring to, or to the tax ticket you refer to.

It is about to me the very vile Ms McGuire.

I recall, sir, that you tried to equate items on the tax ticket with the refuse spewed by Ms McGuire, and in that you are indeed wrong on the facts, sir!

A rational person indeed sees a large difference between abortions by hangers in back alleys and saying one wants to not put control of a school board in the hands of the employees and its own representatives. Your attempt to equate them is feeble, sir.

You parse words on what makes up a ticket. There WAS a union ticket!

If the union hides $30,000.00 as it puts it into your campaign, you are their ticket. this is obvious except to even the most very zealous.

Sir, you need to read your Websters. The money was laundered. This does not mean it was illegally laundered, but laundered it was.

To see your Webster's, you wil find the following under laundered: "To disguise the source or nature of by channeling through an intermediate agent."

As you can see, laundering of the funds is exactly what PURE and Dianne McGuire did! The recipient of those very funds was the union ticket in that they were HEAVILY endorsed by the Union. It is all very clear in the filings.

You, sir, need to review the D2s yourself. If you were to do just that, you would easiliy find that the filings are not in compliance with the State of Illinois laws in both content and timing. They were misleading to any voter who looked at them.

They were easily interpreted by this same person as quite dishonest.

Anonymous,

OK, at least we know that you are claiming that because PURE filed their statement of organization on 5-1-08 it was an illegal act as it was filled after the election.

May I again ask, have you filed a complaint? Have you researched the statutes governing reporting, and found the section that discusses this? If so what does it say? will you provide a link please?

I have to tell you that I'm not an expert on this, but I have to believe that if there was anything amiss, Davitt and Denys would have been all over this 18 months ago. Same goes for the Sun.

In case anyone wants to see the reports for themselves, or anybody else's for that matter, Here is the link to the IBOE website

http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeSearch.aspx

If you remove the check mark from the active committee only box and type 14240 in the committee number, you will see the documents for PURE

Wow, I realize Thom's first post passed in the e-mails. But the second did not.

First, I was at the games that the Sox and Cubs did clinch their division titles (those two games were some of the best baseball I have witnessed, particularly last night). I was not at the Cubs game tonight. You might want to check your theory.

Seriously, I would just like to highlight two of your many comments (I refrain from more critical characterizations).

UNION ENDORSEMENT OF BOARD

Don't overstate our comment. One of the roles of the board is to objectively administer salary and other personel issues. I feel that independence is VERY important. Management and labor need to operate at arm's length. Just like a corporate environment. The board and voters/taxpayers are the same as the Board of a corporation and its shareholders. I was shocked that the union has ANY input in the Board other than a vote like every other taxpayer.

Our position of independence was to deal with the difficult job, in fact, the hardest job the District has in balancing fair compensation for a monopoly versus the interests of the taxpayer. And I still believe that. IT IS A VERY TOUGH JOB, ONE THAT IF I WERE ELECTED WOULD HAVE BEEN A CHALLENGE TO ME.

And if you are not totally independent, the other party, in this case, the union has some level of control (a one word explanation for ads and fliers for the above concept).

To extrapolate the comment that we despised teachers is just to extreme. I cannot say anything more than that. And not believing in Public Education, also not true. I am a product of public education. However, I am not ashamed that I chose a school with a much longer school day and more advanced programs for elementary school including foreign language from pre kindergarten for my childen. And my children had choice for high school.

But Thom, you know all of this. And I am not alone, per the census bureau, 10% of all Naperville 203 students select private schools.

TEACHERS ABANDONING THE DISTRICT

Then you go on and make the comment that if we were elected, all of the teachers would transfer to other schools. Another sensational, false comment. First, even if they were to be given full credit for their service, they would have to take a pay cut unless they could get into New Trier (difficult for elementary teachers). Second, as you must know, schools limit the amount of service credit they grant to transferring teachers. That would further reduce the likelihood of this happening.

Why not be more inflammatory and say they would go on strike for a whole year.

Now if you would state that there would be a strained work environment, I might agree with you. But that is why you get professional negotiators and let them work out the details. If you have ever been in management, the toughest job is to deal with employee matters. You cannot make them personnal, they need to be an arm's length BUSINESS transaction. And again that is why independence is critical.

And Thom, I would NEVER apologize for trying to improve entities that I have a relationship with. I saw an old collegue who was the CFO of the Chicago Latin School. Very interesting. She said that parents are more demanding today than ten years ago. The school has to constantly improve. Why would Naperville be different? If you do not improve, you will fall behind. But advocating for constant improvement is not the same as your accusation that such a policy would DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION, another EXTREME comment. In fact, I would be interested in the top ten positions that we took would DESTROY EDUCATION. Go post that on your web site instead of empty words (somebody else is doing this).

Enough. Oh, thanks for the tips on the campaign complaints.

PURE filed their statement of organization on 05/01/07 NOT 5-1-08. I cannot reveal what is going on behind the scenes as I type this regarding a complaint to the state. HOWEVER, THE SUN CAN GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND DO A STORY NOW about how Dianne McGuire laundered union funds and DECEIVED THE ENTIRE VOTERS OF DISTRICT 203 last year with her false and late filings of PURE.

The STATE is toothless when it comes to this stuff. THE STUPID STATE themselves could see the very dates were wrong yet they did NOTHING.

I believe McGuire and PURE DID THIS ON PURPOSE KNOWING THEY WOULD FACE IF ANY CONSEQUENCES.

Again, why would anyone vote for Dianne McGuire after she engaged in this illegal act? She cites Abraham Lincoln as her biggest political influence. What a joke. Can you imagine ABE LINCOLN sending out flyers with COAT HANGERS? Any idiot knows if Roe vs. Wade is overturned it does not mean the abolition of ABORTION. It simply means the decision to allow ABORTION returns to each state to decide the issue for itself. That's it.

COME ON TED SLOWIK, DO THE PUBLIC A SERVICE AND DETAIL IN A STORY HOW DIANNE MCGUIRE LIED TO THE PUBLIC WITH PURE AND HOW SHE FILED ILLEGAL REPORTS. Don't you think the public has a right to KNOW!!!!!

Dan,

A few thoughts.

Regarding this statement;

To extrapolate the comment that we despised teachers is just to (sic) extreme.

You are actually claiming I'm being too extreme claiming you despise teachers? Seriously?

May I remind you of this statement by your running mate Mike Davitt posted on one of the D203 threads in this very blog?

Having respect for eternity, I'll only respond to one point within Higgins' endless rant. For the record, I don't hate teachers. I despise them. (I do though hate liberals who think money grows on trees; who equate money with education; and who resort to bullying on blogs)……………….

source; http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/newsblog/2007/12/how_will_you_vote_on_d203s_ref.html#comment-26415

These are Mr. Davitt’s words, he has to take responsibility for them, as he has to take responsibility for the Taxpayers Ticket website, the offensive, but now disappeared anonymous, thenuea203.org website(cached on Google in case anyone cares), and, likewise, the similarly offensive hold203accountable.org website, which is currently live, his many letter to the editor, etc.

While I assume you are not part of Davitt’s anonymous websites, you have your own record to atone for. While I could spend days illustrating your many outrageous and false statements, here are some easily found and verifiable whoppers from the various threads regarding the referendum on this site;

1. you took an official state document, discussing the minimum required space a student needs to safely exit a room in case of emergency, cut and pasted it, and presented it as the state standard for the amount of space required for instructional purposes. The lie here being that you need 16 sq, ft to safely exit a room when it’s on fire, but you need 30’ for educational purposes. You did this to bolster your charge that the new school rooms were too large.

2. When I finally cornered you on your false claim that the classrooms were too big, (your Taj Mahal argument) you took a prior post of yours, modified it to take the opposing position, and attempted to bluff your way out of it

3. Early on your railed and railed, in your signature FULL CAPS FURRY!!!!!!!, about the lack of a Master Facilities Plan. It took me physically going to the district administration building and taking pictures of the 5-6 feet worth of binders, filling two rows on a bookshelf, comprising thousands of pagers, one for each and every school, to put the lie to that silly charge. Yeah, I know they do not have your preferred title of Master Facilities Plan. I hardly think the title matters, rather it’s the content of those pages that do exactly what you claim is non existent.

4. Globally, you have consistently, and repeatedly, outright lied, conflated, and distorted, in the most amazing manner. As I have said recently;

Regardless, once written, here in these blogs and elsewhere, your words, with their reckless disregard for the truth, allow for no possible excuse, or justification; there is no acceptable explanation. Your words tell the world, “This is who I am”. They stand unalterable and unforgivable.

After all you two have written, for you and Mike Davitt, to make even the slightest claim that you have even the smallest, most infinitesimal, concern for this school district, it’s students, teachers, staff, and board members, is an insult to the standards of honesty and integrity that this community holds dear.

That you are manifestly incapable of being cognizant of the impact your words have on this community, is a continuing source of amazement to me, and likewise, all of Naperville. Again, as I have stated previously, people such as yourself, and Mike Davitt, who hold such extreme, and offensive views, must never, ever, not be allowed to have any part in the decision making process of our schools.

To Thom Higgins on October 1, 2008 7:29 PM:

Sir, perhaps you give much too credit or are too negative viewed on the Mr Davit & Denis people who did not win an election.

I would direct you to look at the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act to find any references you desire on this subject matter. Section 9 would be an area of scrutinization on filings (9.1,9.3,9.6)

I would also suggest a very close review if the Illinois Administration Codes as they are very informative on content and filings of election activities. Sections 100 are of enlightening quality.

I strongly believe we have reached an apex of exaustion on this same matter.

Can someone explain to me why the SUN does not do a story on the illegal activities conducted by Dianne McGuire while TREASURER of PURE? She is after all running for one of the LAW MAKING bodies of the state of Illinois. How can she possibly do her job properly after BREAKING THE LAW?

I agree we have exhausted this topic.

Remebmer the key point.

DIANE MCGUIRE IS DISHONEST IN THIS ELECTION JUST AS THE LAST ELECTION.

Higgins rantings.

1. Mike's comments about despising teachers happened way after the election and you constantly take it out of context.

2. The facilities program is behind. I stand behind all of my information and am entitled to my opinion. You do not have facts, just your long rambling with bad sources And the 25 binders are not a comprehensive facilities plan. If fact, the district just announced that they were going to embark on a plan for the remaining 19 buildings after Central is done in four years. So who is lying--you or Leis.

Oh, by the way, in just two years, Benet (a private school) identified its facilities needs, raised the funds (NO TAXES) and completed a major building addition. Just like foreign language, Central has been studied for three years and it will be another four years before it will be done. True to form, the private sector acts in two years and the public sector 7 years.

3. True to your form. I asked for up to ten distinct reasons why we (the Taxpayer Ticket) would have destroyed the district. Each reason should be ten words or less (like Letterman), not your many words that say nothing.

4. You still have not briefly stated what your pension concern that I did not understand.

I must admit it is impossible to respond to volumes of nothing.

Dan,

I have really have to stand in awe of your chutzpah.

It is an inescapable fact that Mike Davitt in these very web pages wrote the following;

Having respect for eternity, I'll only respond to one point within Higgins' endless rant. For the record, I don't hate teachers. I despise them. (I do though hate liberals who think money grows on trees; who equate money with education; and who resort to bullying on blogs)…

And how do you respond? By saying that, well, hey, Forget about it! it happened after the election, and anyway I’m taking it out of context!

Dan, please, please, help us all, and give us the proper context for that statement.

I note you are studiously avoiding responding to your previous fabrications that were noted by me above. For the record, what is your response? Do you want me to post your fabrications here again?

I also note you are actually asking me to give you ten reasons why the TT would have destroyed the district. (I can’t imagine you actually are willing to ask this!) Allow me to offer, as an homage to Letterman, the following,

“Top Ten Reasons why Dan Denys and Mike Davitt are unfit to hold a position on the School Board”

10. You are the kind of person who continually puts “words in the mouths” of a variety of people (myself included) that they never said or wrote, which displays a lack of character and integrity.

9. You continually attempt to link people to other, less admirable public figures, where no link exists, in a sort of twisted, hoped for, “guilt by association” scenario, which again, shows a lack of character and integrity.

8. When exposed for your falsehoods, both of you do not have the character and integrity to admit you were wrong.

7. The animus against teachers displayed on the Taxpayers Ticket website is disgraceful, as are all the union conspiracy theories. I re-sate my position based on conversations with 203 teachers and staff. If the TT slate had been elected, there would have been a mini exodus of teachers and staff.

6. You both are unwilling, or, incapable, of making a truthful argument.

5. Your personal and professional ethical failings were on full display with your failed school bond deal. What phrase did the IRS examiner describe your dealings as? Oh, yeah, A FARCE! And you think this town is supposed to trust you with millions? Do you think we are that crazy?

4. Your essential complaint about the school district is regarding how much the cost of education has increased in the last few years. But neither of you will admit that D203 has the very lowest cost for a school that performs on such a high academic level. There is not one district in the Chicago land area that has higher academic performance at a lower cost. In fact, one can search endlessly trying to find where either of you show any appreciation of just what an exemplary school district we have. If you can't understand, or, appreciate, what a jewel we have here, why should voters risk all this district has achieved by putting the two of you in charge of it?

3. Mike Davitt is the owner of a number of anonymous web sites (some live others disappeared) that are full of hateful rhetoric against teachers, administrators, the Chamber of Commerce, Tim West, the Sun, and my group QE203.org.

And the number one reasons why Mike Davitt and Dan Denys should never hold a School Board position? A tie!

1. Dan Denys doesn’t think enough of our exemplary school district to send his own kids here! Why? Here’s a clue:

“....Wheaton Academy a good conservative school where top Republicans in Naperville send their children rather than the public schools--check it out--or Marmiom)

Yes, God forbid, “Top Republican Children” have to rub elbows with YUCK! middle and bottom rung Republican children, and Gasp! Children of Democrats! The exquisite elitism here is breathtaking.

1. And finally, Mike (Oh, the hatred that lives in my beating heart) Davitt for saying,

He doesn’t hate teachers he despises them!

Lastly you are confused about my pension concern?
I can't imagine why, but hopefully for the last time; You have been playing games with time frames and dollar amounts. In order to have an honest debate we need to look at where we are today, not play silly games such as looking at narrow time frames. For you cynically use the years 2001-2003 as the focal point of your critique of the pension system difficulties, when you know damn well that those were particularly difficult years due to the financial after effects of the 911 tragedy, rather than an intrinsic failure of the pension system, is to me, despicable.

As others say you are not worth the time. And you say that everything I say is meaningless. So why bother.

First and foremost, people can read YOUR OWN WORDS. And for the most part, I will let them judge you for your words.

Of your ten points, lets first focus on 3 to 10, they existed during the election. Most of them basically call into question character. And again, I will let others decide that.

You either do not understand number 5 or simply want to continue to slander me. I was part of the accusation, but ALL CHARGES against me were dropped. PERIOD. The farce, a man named David Lail who the IRS IS PURSUING. And I have sent you the final decisions and you continue to either LIE or just don't understand (even Barak Obama would get this one).

So that leaves us with 4. And again TOTALLY UNTRUE. Our complaint was not the cost of education, it was the excessive collection of taxes OVER THE COST OF EDUCATION.

I could go on about this, but I think there are more relevant issues out there that should be considered. These were our campaign issues (not mentioned at all in your ramblings).

1. Tax for what the district needs, over time correct the lies from 2002 referendum. (NOBODY EVER GIVES US CREDIT FOR THIS. SOME PEOPLE, WHO I WOULD CONSIDER EXTREME, WANTED TAXES ROLLED BACK AND IMMEDIATE CUTS TO PROGRAMS. We did not get their votes.)
2. Have all new initiatives be voted by referendum as promised in the 2002 election (and broken by the board).
3. Board independence to fairly balance costs and taxes.
4. Educational enhancements such as longer school day and foreign language for elementary students AND MORE
5. Fair teachers contracts, both to the employees and the taxpayers
6. Accountability--create methods for parents to provide input on teachers and educational needs.
7. Eliminate social promotion particularly at the middle and high schools.
8. Expand tracked education by starting in 1st grade and expanding it beyond 1% of the district's students through junior high.
9. Eliminate increased salaries in last three to six years of employment since it was above market and bankrupting both the schools and the state of Illinois (violates point 3)
10. Like the North Shore schools, ESTABLISH A POLICY OF CONSTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

This was all on the Taxpayer Ticket web site. And your number 7 was because teachers did not like 4 (this is most amazing, they would have to work more!!), 5, 6, 8 (there is less accountability when you only have to worry about the average student, not those who want to learn more), and 9. And in general, as I have stated during the campaign and again on this blog, these are tough issues. They are tougher in 203 due to the lack of board independence (at a minimum based on appearances). Also, the lead negotiator, Dr. Leis, states that he cannot negotiate hard with the union since he has to work with them. Would private industry (that is still in business) work that way?

And your last two points came LONG AFTER THE ELECTION. And true to form, are taken totally out of context. TOTALLY. To carry out your point on where children go to school, only 35% of the voters would be allowed to run for the board. Is that taxation with representation? And yes, Thom, despite my children choosing their schools, if the public schools were improved to the levels of Benet, Wheaton Academy, Avery Coonley, and others, maybe more people would chose them. Like my friend's daughter who chose Walter Payton (top public school in the state) over Latin.

And you know what, if the current board would pursue excellence, I would be their biggest supporter. And a history lesson. The board that started these problems was led by a teachers union leader, Tim Costello and several cronies. I will admit that the newer board members including those I lost to are far better than the previous board. But I also feel, MY OPINION, that they are in a difficult bind since they accepted the sponsorhip of their elections by the teachers union. I do respect Obama for not taking special interest money, that is what this is.

And I still do not get your pension argument. What is the "intrinsic failure of the pension system"? I would repeat for the 15th time that the Civic Federation identified causes that go BEYOND the investment losses. And what I base my numbers on.

But if it has failed as you suggest, how do we fix it? AGAIN, YOU HAVE NO, THAT'S RIGHT, NO IDEA. In reality, by "pimping" for the teachers, you WANT A MAJOR INCOME TAX INCREASE. Why can't you say what you realy stand for?

And how does this relate to Diane McGuire? She is behind all of the same positions as Thom Higgins. She also says nothing. More importantly, she really stands for increased salaries and pensions for government workers, higher taxes and who knows what else. SHE WON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE SHE IS A DEMOCRAT. Why the shame? Or does she want to mislead people just like she did as PURE.

Hey Higgins my boy!!

Did you see the article about BP moving 1,000 jobs out of Naperville area to downtown Chicago?

Do you know the real reason? As a subsidiary of a British company, most of the senior management (primarily Brits) chose to locate either in downtown Chicago to be close to Latin, Francis Parker or the British School or the north shore. The did not feel that the Naperville schools were up to snuff and of course, as Brits, they do not appreciate Catholic schools.

Tired of the long communte, they moved the jobs.

I guess they don't buy your kool aid.

Dan,

You twice asked me for 10 reasons why the Taxpayers Ticket, if elected, would have destroyed the school district. I complied, and you have now rebutted.

I'm willing to let it end here. The two posts offer an excellent illustration of our divergent thoughts. Shall we leave it to the readers to study the two posts and draw their own conclusions?

Moved to the city for the Latin school and proximity to the north shore? While that may in part be true, it's got to be minor and reads like a conspiracy theory.

BP moved its energy trading operation to the city accounting for most of the people that moved. It makes sense and is the most obvious explanation for choosing this location: put the jobs in the locale that is most suited to them and a fruitful recruiting environment. Naperville is hardly a hotspot for the commodities biz. Maybe a bedroom community for some, but not a financial center.

The location is the former merc space on the river--perfect.

Besides, last I heard, unless you know Richie Daley the waiting list at the Latin School is veeerrry long.

One open comment.

Mike's comment about despising teachers is because they held the district up for $5 per week or $250 per year. And many of their other antics such as and including PURE.

I know you support these teachers antics as well.

By the way, I am told that it is important to establish a good relationship with the school principal and harrass them all summer so your children don't get the incompetant teachers. I suggest that your children be assigned them since you support all of them so much.

An interesting concept, make a list of those that support teachers no matter what and let them get the worst teachers.

JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!

To Thom and All

I am fine to leave this where it is. The readers can judge. A very fair approach.

Thom, only one open issue,

What is the "intrinsic failure of the pension system"?

I have studied the issues of PURE and looked at the documents. I too am confused how Dianne McGuire got away with her illegal reporting. How did she do it? Aren't there laws against such stuff? How come no one is prosecuting her? How come I haven't read about this in any newspaper?

Dan,

I used the phrase “intrinsic failures” meaning the actual, or essential, failures (failure, meaning the lacking a positive outcome) in the system, as opposed to your contrived argument that the systems problems are contained within the three years 2001-2003.

We both know what created the deficits;

1. Significant underfunding by the state of Illinois (the largest single factor)
2. Early retirement offers (especially by Blago to reduce staff count, helps payroll, hurts pension funding)
3. Benefit increases (mitigated by increased contributions, but not 100% mitigated)
4. Actuarial increases ( i.e. increased life span, etc.)

Thom,

I agree 100%. I would amplify to your number 4 investment losses (that is where they belong and over time they should have no effect).

But how does this get fixed? The unions in the pandering Sun articles want tax increases to fund 100%. If I may, that is the most "labor friendly" approach.

On the other hand, the most "taxpayer friendly" approach would be to cut benefits or even eliminate the plan going forward and replace it with a plan that the state funding can afford.

And there are answers in between.

I think if you combine your post and mine, we have the problem and the options to fix.

Was that so hard?????

Bravissimo to Dan D. and Thom Higgins!

Surely it is the seventh sign of the apocalypse!