Fortunately.
The April 5 election has, as we all know by now, its share of elections that have, to say the least, had some interesting campaigns.
- Indian Trails Library Referendum. The library grew out of its humble beginnings in a house in Wheeling to its facility on Schoenbeck Road. Despite the fact that more and more people think they can get by with Wikipedia, a Nook or Kindle, a library, make that a good library, offers more than books and CDs. Resources and programming are at the foundation of any library and residents in the district are fortunate to have a facility as comprehensive as the Indian Trails Public Library. Of course, if you wave a checkbook around and yell movie in a crowded firehouse, you may think the referendum was robbing you blind. For example, Rob Sherman, Buffalo Grove's answer to Lar "America First" Daly, thinks it's yet another conspiracy. Maybe Robbypoo forgot that he spent a lot of time in libraries soaking up knowledge as a young annoyance. Or maybe he did not need a library since he thought he knew everything anyway. A forefront of any community is the strength of its ability to provide education -- schools and libraries are front and center and both need community support. Sherman, as usual, is quick with ridicule and ideas -- but short, very short, on a record of action.
- The District 125 School Board Election. While the current board has made some poor decisions, it's made up of people who can separate church and state. Literally. The 125for125 claim they're concerned about giving students choices and finances. The reality is their platform is predicated on moral issues and imparting those on an entire student body. This was the case in 2009 when members of the now slate called the school newspapers "pornography". This in response to articles on "Hooking Up" (based on a New York Times report) and the Gay-Straight Alliance dance. Staff members, one of whom is allegedly Gay, approved both articles. That does not and should not impact the quality of education being delivered. The slate has avoided issues of student expression, book banning and curriculum alteration based on its moral beliefs. The bottom line is this -- the moral majority is neither. Stevenson has a long tradition of academic excellence; and while the current board has thrown speed bumps and detours along the road, a board that puts its own morality about quality quality education would close the road.
And finally,
- The Village Board races. The race between Andrew Stein and Denice Bocek has all the excitement and interest of shopping for oatmeal. They're both dedicated residents and they both want to serve for two years. On the other hand, there's the race for Village Clerk, pitting incumbent Jan Sirabian against resident egomaniac and atheist Rob Sherman. Sherman's platform is riddled with disrespect toward public officials, women, and the office in general. Sherman is full of "ideas" that he thinks will improve things in the village -- yet he has yet to step up and do anything for the village. Sirabian, like any public official, has had her ups and downs -- but she has done as stellar job of not stooping to Sherman's arrogance and boorish campaign tactics. Sherman takes pride in exploiting women in a manner that's unbecoming a public official. His latest allegation has been to tag Sirabian as "Dirty Tricks Jan." Really? Maybe Sherman needs to look in the mirror and take a look in the mirror. What he may see is a series of blemishes in character, a record of non public service, and a history of publicity stunts to do little more than call attention to him. Public service is not a "me first" proposition -- it's for the good of the whole. Hopefully voters realize that and vote for the good of the entire village.
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