A press release from Scott Summers:

Scott Summers opposes the pending referendum question on creation of a county executive

Scott Summers

“On balance, I think it’s a bad idea,” he says.

“The part-time governing boards of many our area’s municipalities and schools wisely hire skilled professionals to run their day-to-day operations; so, too, does McHenry County.”

“For three reasons, the present system of appointing an administrator (rather than electing an executive, as the referendum provides) is the better method,” Summers states.

1. “First, high caliber individuals can be recruited from national talent pools.”
2. “Second, they serve ‘at will’ (rather than for a four year term) and can be changed readily if circumstances warrant.”
3. “Third, delivery of vital public services is insulated from direct political pressures when handled by an appointed administrator.”

“I advocate instead for a wholesale cut in the size of the McHenry County Board (from 24 individuals to 12), coupled with the countywide election of a board chair. I would retain the board’s present system of hiring a professional county administrator,” he says.

Summers is a Democratic Party candidate for a District 6 seat on the McHenry County Board. His website is www.ScottSummers.org.