Mary Margaret Maule
The following expresses the position of Mary Margaret Maule, the Democratic Party County Board candidate in District 4, on the County Executive referendum put forth by State Rep. Jack Franks:
“I have walked numerous precincts and the voters of McHenry County District 4 are in favor of this referendum.
“I am in favor of this referendum because the people of my district say they want more direct control over the leadership of their county board. It has been overwhelmingly supported by every citizen I spoke to.
“I am running to represent the views of the citizens of District 4 and therefore I am in favor of it.
“I am a public servant.
“I am running to represent the people of my district.”
The two incumbent McHenry County Board Democrats have come out against the proposal, as has the Democratic Party candidate for County Board in District 1.
Are you a School Teacher?
Huh?
I could be wrong, but she looks like a school teacher to me and the same attitude.
She has the attitude of a school teacher?
She wants to make the world a better place, she works hard and gets very little appreciation- yeah, I guess she does seem like a school teacher.
School teachers are pretty awesome.
Well . . . I would agree, unless it was one of those teachers, that the Union Protects.
And I am interested in the future of this county.
The County Executive offers more direct representation to the voters.
The county board can overturn a veto with a 2/3 vote.
Lift this above the personalities of current politicians. This is provide good governance.
Executives of other county wide offices control their budgets, hire their staff and are elected by the voters of the county.
Are you uncomfortable with them as well?
My research of the subject shows efficient and effective communities. Maryland, Virginia, Wisconsin- there are county executives in 45 of the 50 states.
Lower taxes, more accountability government.
The people I talked to understand that it changes the form of government- they want the accountability.
I have knocked on a lot of doors this past week- people want this.
I am just asking, are you one of those teachers?
Another “useful idiot.”
People are “for it” because they don’t understand what it does and are buying into the Franks Disinformation Campaign.
By the way Mary, it is a 3/5ths majority to override not 2/3rds.
If even you can’t get your facts straight how do you think the voters will?
Actually Mike, You are incorrect to assume people do no realize it is changing the form of government.
I spoke to numerous people- they are aware of what it does.
People are extremely unhappy with the current county board and want more voice in their government.
Power is not concentrated now and I watched what happened to committee assignments after board members challenged the Chairman two years ago.
My decision is based on research and discussions with my constituents.
Mary:
Perhaps your “research” could have led you to the correct percentage of votes needed to override a veto by the CE.
The optimal form of county government is to have the Chair popularly elected and leave the Board the way it is.
There would be few checks and balances on the CE.
It could lead to a tyranny and it would be very difficult to get rid of the tyrant.
At least with an elected Chair, the Board would still have the option of reducing his/her powers.
They can’t do that with a runaway CE. That’s the problem.
This would also do away with a professional County Administrator.
Under Peter Austin the county has achieved a Triple A bond rating, which I think makes us the smallest county in the country to have such.
An elected CE would not necessarily have any administrative abilities or training yet would have all of those same responsibilities.
As a politician, you know that people don’t necessarily get elected because they are the best person for the job.
Usually it has to do with name recognition and resources.
How else to you account for Todd Stroger?
I agree that the Board has been spinelss.
We have the opportunity this year to change out the entire Board.
The solution is to ask each candidate if they would vote for KK as Chair and if they would also vote to put a binding referendum on the ballot for 2014 to elect the new Chair at large.
Where do YOU stand on those questons?
I agree that would be the optimal solution- but it is not one facing the voters of our county.
That choice was the result of this sitting board opting not to put the question to the voters.
If elected, I would not vote for the current Chairman, 8 years is enough.
I would vote for a referendum to elect a chair at large, because I agree that is optimal.
I know and respect Peter, he is talented and we have benefited from having him- but again, lift the discussion above the current personalities and look to governance.
The current system is equally fraught with concentrated influence.
And a system that has proven to be Machiavellian at times.
I disagree that removing a CE would be difficult.
The voters want someone to hold accountable for tax increases, how their resources are used, etc.
Todd Stroger is a poor example- it was his father’s stroke that led to last minute maneuvering and his position as board Pres.
He was also VOTED OUT OF OFFICE in the 2010 election- in fact he came in last int he primary.
Your example actual proves the point that voters have the power to remove a executive who is not serving the people.
In fact, I would back Peter’s candidacy for the position.
I do not believe that McHenry County residents (“people”) want an elected County Executive.
We have a county executive now; his name is Peter Austin.
Just look at the huge problem we have right now with a different elected office – the Sheriff.
A lame duck collecting $12,500/month (and will for the next two years) and never in sight.
An unimpressive administrator who allows his undersheriff to display illegal political advertising on the side of the County-owned squad car.
One who hopes to flaunt the Hatch Act by re-arraigning his organizational chart.
M. Maule,
Have you ever Manipulated someone? Do you understand that people in Government manipulate to get what they want? To get Elected, for their own agenda?
Do you honestly think the majority of McHenry County has the time and effort to research who is an excellent candidate? Or do you think they just look at who has the most influence to sway their vote?
How many of them know how a County Board works or a Municipality works? Those are questions we should be asking.
If they don’t know how they run then by doing this referendum you manipulating and swaying the voters to your favor.
The problem is that this makes an EXECUTIVE position.
A Governor of the County.
If the Governor of the State does a horrible job then what makes us think we can elect someone with competency as the County Board Chairman to work for the people? Do you know how many people that is to listen too?
It’s centralized power and is the exact opposite of Limited Government.
It seems to me that you like a man in charge so that County Board Members have to fight for what they believe in.
How does that get anything done in the long run?
What does that accomplish?
Please Look over what you are deciding just because you don’t like the current Chairman. That isn’t the issue! You are changing the current form of County Board Government that was chosen for a reason years ago!
The mess in McHenry County is as bad as the mess in Washington.
Clean out the corruption first.
Hold them accountable, a change like this will confuse the voters even more and the corruption will continue.
An interesting tidbit here.
I have learned that Mary had a meeting with Peter Austin recently and told him she OPPOSED the CE referendum.
Then she got a contribution from Jack Franks and changed her position!
Wait for her upcoming disclosure filing……..
Michelle, I would likewise recommend that you do research on other communities that operate with this model of government.
I know that I have dedicated significant hours of my time talking with the residents of my district.
They are not the naive, uninformed people you and others here would like to pretend they are. They want a voice in their government.
Based on your comment about the voter’s ability to pick a Governor, you clearly do not believe the public should have a voice in their government- and despite what you believe, centralization also centralizes accountability.
In the long run, it results in a responsive government with lower taxes.
My decision has nothing to do with any of the personalities the posts on this blog continue to use as their rational.
My decision is informed and in alignment with the wants of my district.
Exactly what reason can you site for the choice of county board- and what size was the county then?
Certainly not the 300,000 residents it is today.
I do not understand- this is a Republican dominated county.
With an active Republican party- exactly what are you afraid of?