Avon Township Race goes Point counter-Point

Taken verbatim from the websites of each Avon Township Slate....

YOU DECIDE

Avon Forward Promises Change, But Can They Deliver?

Our opponents (Avon Forward) have been quoted saying some rather interesting things in the media since the start of the campaign. As we all know, words are meaningless unless they are backed up by actions. We looked at their claims and promises, and we have found a couple that no matter what they might say, they just cannot deliver on.

How can we make such a claim? By standing on the facts and demonstrating our experience with township government. For example, the Avon Forward party has claimed that their policy is the "Reversing the over $40,000 pay raises for elected officials as well as reducing overall salaries for elected official" (source - Avon Forward Website). As much as they might want to do this, they simply cannot. Why?

According to Illinois statutes, the salary increases are set in advance of the election and cannot be changed once the resolution is passed. This is done to prevent elected officials from voting themselves a pay increase after they take office. We verified this information with the Townships Officials of Illinois organization.

Avon Forward's Response on their website

”Avon Forward Promises Change, But Can They Deliver?”
Our Stance: Our answer is plain and simple ... Absolutely! Avon One appears to be concerned with ending business as usual at the township hall, but Avon Forward embraces the opportunity to better serve the residents and end the archaic policies of the past. Based on their statements, Avon One is the party committed to the "cannot" approach while Avon Forward is the party committed to the "can do" approach. Avon Forward is the party of ideas and "can do" attitude.

Avon One states, Avon Forward Party's commitment to reversing the over $40,000 in pay raises for elected township officials, which was unanimously approved by the Avon One Party, “simply cannot” be done.
Our Stance: Avon One's claims that pay raises for elected township officials cannot be reversed in no way justifies them passing these pay raises, especially in these economic times. Avon Forward is committed to reversing these pay raises and cutting salaries to elected township officials even if that means having to wait until the question is voted on again. Even if the pay raises cannot immediately be reversed, that does not prevent the Avon Forward candidates from donating those pay raises back to the township to offset operating expenses and reduce the increased tax burden on residents, which these pay raises have created.

What's the Deal......Who is the real Pat Duby

Mr. Pat Duby is running for Avon Township Supervisor in the upcoming April Election. He will compete against the incumbent Shirley Christian and Candidate Sam Yingling of Avon Forward. As a voter, I took a gander at Mr Duby’s Linkedin (Networking) Webpage several times over the course of the last few weeks. I wanted to know who he was. Surprisingly, his list of qualifications changes as often as the weather in Chicago. At one point he states he was on the staff of Senator Michael Bond, but when that was questioned, his Linkedin Webpage changed to “Senior Campaign Staff under the direction of Senator Michael Bond”. How does someone who starts volunteering in June 2008 become a Senior Campaign Staff Member? As I read more of Mr. Duby’s qualifications, he states he was a Campaign Manager for several Lake County Board Candidates. When that qualification was verified, it turns out that Mr. Duby was not anybodies campaign manger. Now his Linkedin webpage changes to “Served as Campaign Manager for County Commissioner candidates running for Lake County IL Board during the Nov 2008 federal elections” Could it be that Mr. Duby was merely one of the many hundreds of dedicated volunteers who worked diligently to get Democrats elected in 2008? I do believe this is the real Pat Duby, a young man who along with many others helps to advance the democrats in Lake County.

As a prospective candidate, Mr Duby has begun working on his “walk-cards” addressing the platform issues that he would like to work on as Avon Township Supervisor. Whether intentional or not, a few of these platform cards made their way to the “Eye”. Several of the platform issues Mr. Duby addresses are not affected at the township level. Does Mr. Duby know what the position of Township Supervisor entails? Does he understand township government?

I applaud the effort of any individual who wants to get involved in Public Service, but in order to compete for the top slot; one should have a little experience in township business and well as involvement in township government.