Teachers Union Donates Big Bucks to Incumbents Campaign
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Hot news to report!
Just two weeks ago, the Teachers Union - AFT Local 604 donated a whopping $9,000 to the campaign of 3 incumbents running for re-election to the school board. [also known as "The Friends of Valley View"]
The "Friends of Valley View" is a 4 member group made up of 3 incumbents, and 1 new candidate. All 4 are proud members of The First Party.
- Steve Quigley, incumbent
- Richard Gougis, incumbent
- Leo Venegas, incumbent
- Chrystal Hansen
The 4 candidates are in a dog race with 7 other candidates - all hoping to fill only 4 spots on the board.
CURIOUS MINDS WANT TO KNOW
- Did the teachers of VV approve the $9,000 contribution? Or did the board make the contribution behind closed doors?
- How much influence did Richard "Dick" Manley, Union President have? Remember, he's close friends with Mayor Claar (The First Party Leader).
- Can the whopping $9,000 convince voters to give the incumbents another chance? Or will the voters skip the incumbents and elect new blood?
- Do you think the $9,000 donation will ensure another 3 years of guaranteed raises? Remember, the teachers contract is up next year.
As a community, we need to have an honest discussion about Valley View's budget issues. This discussion will need to be hashed out between the teachers union, parents, taxpayers and the school board.
This can only be accomplished if voters elect candidates that are truly independent. No ties to any union or political regimes.
Otherwise, the budget issues will continue, and no real progress is made.
The power is in your hands - vote.
CLICK TO VIEW THE CONTRIBUTION.
CLICK TO JOIN THE DEBATE.
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"I have three non-incumbent signs in my yard. Since they've been up, I've received two zoning violation notices for piddly stuff like putting my trash out too early. It's just letters; no citation or anything. Just annoying and sad."
CLICK TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS
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Did You Know?
The Village of Bolingbrook (as a community) has a total of 33 elected positions. Yet, only 4 democrats serve on the local boards.
There's very little democrat representation considering the fact that Bolingbrook is approximately 56% registered democrat, and growing.
Village Board
6 Trustee Seats
100% republican
Valley View School Board
7 Board Seats
1 Democrat
Fountaindale Public Library
7 Board Seats
1 Democrat
Bolingbrook Park District
5 Board Seats
1 Democrat
DuPage Township
8 Board Seats
1 Democrat
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Was Dick Kavanaugh the best choice to serve as 3rd member of the Electoral Board?
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The petitions for three Valley View School Board candidates (incumbents) have been challenged. A resident of the community has submitted a formal objection to their candidacy.
Steve Quigley (board president), Rick Gougis (board member) and Leo Venegas (board member) are scheduled to defend their petitions to the electoral board this afternoon in an open hearing.
The Electoral Board is a 3 member board consisting of Liz Cambell (board secretary), Mike Evans (board member), and Dick Kavanaugh (???).
Dick Kavanaugh is not a member of the school board, and in fact, will be representing a separate objection case with the Village of Bolingbrook.
We understand the election law, which excludes a 3rd person from the school board from serving on the panel, but curious minds want to know -
Who decided Dick Kavanaugh would be the ideal candidate to serve as the 3rd person on the electoral board?
After all, he has a conflict interest. Basically arguing from both sides of his mouth. [by representing one group objecting a petition with the Village, then sitting on the board to hear an objection case at Valley View].
How about the fact that he's a staunch supporter of Claar. Is he trying to protect Claar's interest? Hint: At election time, check out which school board candidates Mayor Claar will openly endorse in his "letter to the public". Will any of the names be Quigley, Gougis, or Venegas? Or all three?
Will Kavanuagh charge the District
(aka Tax Payers) for his services? Or will he serve on the panel free of charge?
Why not choose someone from the community that actually lives in Bolingbrook?
Did anyone bother to notify the community. Surely there are qualified members of the community that could serve without having a conflict of interest.
Just thinkin'
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March 27, 2011
By Rhonda Reed-Slaughter
Have you noticed the thousands of campaign signs from The First Party (Village & Valley View School) covering the major streets of Bolingbrook?
Take a closer look at how their signs are displayed. You will see they are using their signs to cover up the opponents. [We snapped a picture at 11 different locations. Please take a moment to examine each picture (above), and judge for yourself]
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Is the Bolingbrook First Party trying to let people know they are running for office? Or, trying to prevent people from knowing anybody else is?
Unfortunately, this kind of "camouflage" operation is typical of politics as usual in Bolingbrook.
That's why you need to get out and vote.
CLICK TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS
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Teachers Union
Gives Endorsement to the Incumbents
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Curious minds want to know - Does this deal include a multi-year contract with a guaranteed 5% raise?
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February 25, 2011
By Rhonda Reed-Slaughter
Hold your seat Bolingbrook! Rumor has it, the teachers union will be endorsing Steve Quigley, Rick Gougis, and Leo Venegas (incumbents) running for school board this April, 2011.
If the rumor proves true, taxpayers should examine this relationship very closely. At the end of the day, the deal may end up costing taxpayers millions. Here's why.
The teachers' union contract is (one of 3 union contracts) up for renewal in 2011/12. The 4 year contract guarantees 5% raises (every year), which is more than what local police and firefighters get, and higher than the private sector that averaged 3% (during the time the original contract was signed).
President of the school board, Steve Quigley is the only candidate (incumbent) that served on the board when the contract was signed three years ago. Quigley supported the contract by voting yes.
Curious minds want to know -
Well the power is in your hands. Ask each candidate directly - if elected, how will they vote when the union contracts are up for renewal?
There's no easy solution. As a parent of two children that are students in the district, I have met dedicated teachers that care a great deal for our children. Unfortunately, we can no longer avoid the obvious issue - extremely high labor cost that's draining the district's budget.
It's time we elect candidates that are truly independent, and committed to accomplishing a real balanced budget. Fiscal conservative board members may not win popularity contests, but at the end of the day, they will accomplish a real balanced budget, while saving taxpayers millions.
Click here to join the conversation.
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Bonnie Alicea's Public Statement to the Community
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Bonnie Kurowski - Alicea
and Family
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January 11, 2011
By Bonnie Alicea
Approximately six months ago I met with some local candidates seeking to run for office. I found each of these individuals to be bright, talented, and honest. They wanted to run for Trustee because they wanted to be a public servant. Some of these candidates have decided to run in April 2011 and I respected this decision. I was not even sure if I was going to run myself.
I made a decision, after meeting these honest individuals, that I would run to be the smoke screen to ensure they get on the ballot. It is well known that I would love to be able to run and get on the ballot, but I knew in a town with local officials that feared me, getting on the ballot would not happen. I was viewed as the biggest threat.
Sure enough, three members of the community were approached and asked to be the pawn in the game to remove me from the ballot again. Mr. Kavanagh represented them yet again, and I found myself a part of the same thing that happened to me last year. A corrupt system, corrupt attorney, corrupt elected officials who abuse the system, sit on the kangaroo court, and control elections would find some excuse to remove me from the ballot due to personal grudges, political and personal agendas, and rigged election laws.
The entire time I had to remind myself, as my Constitutional Rights were being stomped on, that I was taking the hit for the greater good of the residents. Sure enough, they were so focused on keeping their power base in the schools, and removing me from the Village, that some good candidates made it onto the ballot this year.
By removing me from the ballot, they actually decreased their odds. There are now 4 good candidates running against 4 bad candidates. The residents have a choice for the future and enough people running to take over half the board. Rome was not built overnight, but it can be drastically changed when you take off half of a rubber stamped board and get people to come out to vote.
As for me, I will be working hard in the next two years calling on Senators to change the local laws that have pushed many off the ballots in recent years. I know the Mayoral election is happening in 2013. I will be working hard to survey the residents for changes that they would like to see, and asking for support for the 4 good candidates. I will continue to inform the public of the lack of transparency in the Village and the misspending of the tax payers money. I will do my best to be a thorn in the sides of corrupt officials.
Until then, let the election season begin!
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