Now, after the public outcry and outrage, the "Methadone 4"  are changing their votes and piling one incredible excuse upon another as they scramble to explain their original support of the methadone clinic.  Their excuses betray the same arrogance, incompetence, mismanagement and abuse of power which has brought Berwyn to the brink of bankruptcy.

              You don’t vote for a proposal on two separate occasions, weeks apart, unless you fully support the proposal.  The evidence of their intentional conduct is in the second vote.

               And do you know what makes this situation even more pathetic than it already is?   If there wasn’t an election 9 months from now, no one would have changed their vote.  Belligerent and arrogant, they would have held their ground assuming that, by the time the next election rolled around, the voters would have long forgotten.

More Bad Judgment By
The "Methadone 4"

                  At the July 22, 2008 City Council meeting, I submitted a proposal to have a referendum placed on the November ballot making Berwyn a "Nonpartisan Election" municipality.  To be a "Nonpartisan Election Community" simply means that in primary election voters ARE NOT required to declare their loyalty to a political party since candidates are not identified by party.

 

                  Is there any doubt in your mind as to which Aldermen voted against this proposal?  LOVERO-CHAPMAN-SKRYD and PHELAN.  The proposal failed because of a surprise "NO VOTE" from Alderman Ramos.  Had Alderman Ramos voted for nonpartisan elections, the mayor would have broken the tie in favor of nonpartisan elections.

 

 

Why Nonpartisan Elections?
Here Is Why The "Methadone 4"
FEAR Nonpartisan Elections?

                 Why would anyone oppose nonpartisan elections?  How will the politicians attempt to justify their opposition?

                 You might find it amusing that, where hearings have been held on the issue of nonpartisan elections, 80% testify in support of nonpartisan elections.  Many of the 20% who testify in opposition of nonpartisanship are elected officials.  Why?

                 The answer can be found in the psyche of the political boss and the political machine strategy to control the outcome of elections.

                 The percentage of residents who register to vote but prefer not to  designate party membership is rapidly increasing.  In Berwyn for instance, there are about 25,000 registered voters.  In the hot election contest of April 2005, only 40% went to the polls.  The 60% who don't vote choose not to participate in a partisan primary and, therefore, have no influence on who will appear on the ballot in the general election.

                 Many of this 60% choose not to vote because they do not wish to declare party loyalty.  This has resulted in a continuing and rapid decline of voter participation in the primary election process in municipal elections.  This leaves the political party cliques and the big money crowd in charge of the election process.   It is a process where party bosses seek to stifle competition and exact patronage in exchange for their support of "cooperative candidates".

                 Do you really believe that those who contribute hundreds and thousands of dollars to a political campaign have your best interests in mind?  Or their own?

                 The political machines have the financial assets to  meet their candidates' financial needs in overcoming the overly burdensome process of getting on the ballot and staying on the ballot in the face of fierce litigation over petitions.  This political warfare is costly and exclusionary.  The winner always has many “political debts” to payoff.

                 Like opposition to professionally managed government, the only issue of concern to opponents of nonpartisan elections is political control.  If they can limit your choice to candidates who kiss the ring of the political boss, the victor is always among the politically connected and plays by their rules.

                 There is no democracy in excluding thousands of voters from participating in local elections.  Core principals need to be developed to guide us to a more effective democracy.   These principals should include: Increasing access for voters and prospective candidates, encouraging the participation of nonpartisan groups in the election process who now choose not to participate and demanding greater government accountability. 

                  Research confirms that when voters are not required to declare allegiance to one party or another, voter turnout and participation increases.  

                  One small step for man and one giant step for Berwyn residents will be to adopt nonpartisanship as a political way of life.
 

So What Can Be Done?

 

                  All is not lost.  Despite the efforts by the "Methadone 4" to assure a closed government by eliminating your right to choose nonpartisan government, there is a second way to get this referendum on the November ballot.  If we obtain the signatures of a couple of thousand registered voters on petitions requesting that the referendum be placed on the ballot, the choice will appear on the ballot and the support of Lovero-Chapman-Skryd-Phelan or Ramos is not needed.

 

                   If you are fed up with politics as usual in Berwyn, you are more than welcome to join the volunteers who are obtaining those signatures from their neighbors.  I will be happy to provide you with the petitions and instructions upon request.  Call me at 708-484-4999 or email me.

You Can Do Something About It.

Join The Coalition For A Nonpartisan Referendum

THE PETITION DRIVE BEGINS TODAY

CALL 708-484-4999 or Email Me Today

JoelGlobal@scbglobal.net

A referendum package will be sent or
emailed to you immediately.

 

Respectfully

Joel Erickson

The Insult