One of the benefits of covering local government for nearly a decade is the rather unique perspective one gains as a result.  Lucky for me, that’s what I’ll take into the voting booth on March 20—not the dueling endorsements, frantic politicking and hundreds of partisan comments that have marked the campaign for the 81^st District House seat.

I’m not a big believer in slogans, campaign promises or—God forbid—robocalls. I don’t identify closely with either political party.  What’s most important to me, especially in a local election, is not what a candidate says in the heat of battle, but how they perform their public duties day to day. Not how they treat their dedicated supporters, but how they respond to those with whom they disagree.

Both Ron Sandack, a former village commissioner and mayor who was appointed to the state senate in 2010, and Debbie Boyle, vice president of the Community High School District 99 school board, are hometown candidates. And I’ve observed each of them since the beginning of their public careers.

Both are naturals when it comes to the political arena—personable, attractive, extroverted. Sandack, in particular, is extremely gifted at articulating and defending a position, as befits a career litigator. However, his greatest strength is also his greatest weakness. The skills that make for a successful litigator don’t always equate to legislative success. A good litigator will never ask a question to which he doesn’t already know the answer, but an effective legislator must be open-minded and willing to consider different viewpoints from constituents and colleagues alike.

While he undoubtedly achieved some notable successes while serving on the Downers Grove Village Council, Sandack appeared to grow increasingly combative as his mayoral term wore on. In spite of having a dependable council majority, Sandack sometimes belittled commissioners who advocated other priorities, at one point prompting Commissioner Marilyn Schnell to call for a council retreat where differences could be ironed out in private. Commissioner William Waldack became a particular target, both on the dais and on social media.

Some residents who espoused a contrary viewpoint also heard from the mayor. I acquired a stack of emails from Sandack over the years in response to my posts on the DGreport. Every journalist expects to get feedback from the public, and you’re not doing your job if you don’t occasionally rattle cages. However, Sandack stands alone in my long experience not only for his voluminous and occasionally vitriolic correspondence, but for the extent to which he took his campaign against my newsblog.

Sandack often has said people of good faith can disagree—a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree—but his actions frequently contradict that. It’s as if his litigation background compels him to not just go for win, but to utterly crush the opposition. Unfortunately, turning colleagues, constituents and neutral parties into political enemies is at odds with effective governance, particularly on the local and state level.

Boyle, on the other hand, seems to have a knack for converting her opponents into allies. Her 2009 opponent Bill White, who ran on a slate with District 99 incumbents Julia Beckman, Terry Pavesich and Allyn Barnett, is supporting her House bid; he was a vocal Sandack supporter in 2007. And despite what Don Wade and Roma may have reported thanks to an anonymous local “whistle-blower,” it was Policy Committee members White and member Nancy Kupka who spearheaded changes to the board’s controversial nepotism and conflict-of-interest policies. I find it significant that Kupka was supported in her 2011 campaign by Boyle’s school board opponents.

In her three years on the District 99 board, Boyle has been a model of restraint, with far more provocation than I ever saw Sandack encounter. A registered nurse manager, she joined the school board in 2009 after a campaign notable for her opponents’ smears and misstatements. She didn’t respond in kind and subsequently took the board’s chilly reception in stride.

A week before she was seated, the board met in a controversial closed session to discuss its oft-reworked nepotism policy and three board members joined Barnett, whom Boyle had bested in a tight election, in his recount effort. Two weeks later, the board majority prevented her from voting on the district’s employee benefits package.

And that was just the start. The board president, Julia Kennedy Beckman, waited months to assign her to a committee. The board paid $7,000 to draw up nepotism guidelines that many observers, including the Chicago Tribune, believed were aimed at marginalizing Boyle. During meetings, Boyle’s statements were often met with eye-rolling and dirty looks. Her election as board vice president in 2011 was greeted with a scorching statement from Pavesich, who later called her “a worthless bitch” within earshot of other board members, the administration and the press.

Through it all, Boyle has maintained a professional demeanor and displayed the ability to work collaboratively. She also has exercised leadership in board decisions to broadcast meetings and end pension-spiking raises.

With only a week until Election Day, my perspective may not change anyone’s mind, but perhaps it will serve to highlight the importance of looking beyond campaign rhetoric to the political temperament of the individuals vying to represent our community. And to hold whoever wins accountable for respectfully representing all of us—supporters and opponents alike.

I posted this on Downers Grove Patch this morning. It marks the comeback of the DGreport brand. Initially, there will be a weekly column on Patch. Eventually, I may return to blogging, although perhaps in a slightly different format. Feel free to share your ideas.

Hello again.

It’s been well over a year since I ended my column, shuttered my newsblog and signed on as the first editor of Downers Grove Patch. What I’ve missed the most since then is the chance to share my views on local government and politics.

Some of you may remember my former Downers Grove Sun column, “View from Downers Grove,” or my blog, “DGreport.” Others, however, know me only as the neutral former editor of Patch. I hope it doesn’t come as a surprise that I’ve got opinions about the town I’ve called home for 15 years.

Now, thanks to Patch, I’m back where I belong—sharing my perspectives and opinions and inviting you to do the same.

As long as I’ve been writing about Downers Grove, I’ve made it a point to acknowledge that mine is just one opinion among many. You are more than welcome to disagree and to make your opinion known in the comments section.

I have a couple of rules I’ve always tried to follow and I hope you’ll consider embracing them as well. It’s okay to disagree, even vehemently. It’s not okay to get personal. This is Downers Grove. There are plenty of issues to debate today without making it uncomfortable to greet your adversary on the street tomorrow.

So let’s discuss: liquor code amendments, the 2012 village budget, last month’s recycling extravaganza, the District 99 nepotism policy, the upcoming District 58 superintendent search, the board and commission appointment process, turf battles, campaigns, the local use of social media, local business initiatives and so much more.

See you back here next week with the new “DG Report.”

I miss writing for this forum.

I want it to continue in some form.

I may someday to return to it — in fact, the events of recent days make that almost a certainty.

At any rate, I’ll have more to say when I have more than five minutes to pull my thoughts together. In the meantime, please do visit Downers Grove Patch. It’s still a work in progress, but I believe it has something new, different and better to offer the DG community. And some of you may be very happy to know that, so far at least, there are no anonymous comments on Patch. Because, as we all know — and were often told — that was the major sticking point with the DGreport. Or not.

Anyhow, I’ll be back by this weekend, at the latest. Give some thought to how you see this site continuing without me. If nothing else, it will serve as an archive of the past four years come election season 2011. And come to think of it, that may be enough for now.

downersgrove.patch.com

EJ’s newest venture is up and running!  All of you to head over and kick the tires.  Hyperlocal is still the watchword for this AOL backed effort, but EJ finally has some access to resources that, frankly, are beyond a blogger.

Registration is simple.  You can read, comment, suggest, even contribute stories or upcoming events.

This site will stay up as an archive resource.  EJ spent a lot of time putting topical information up about happenings as they went down.  Consider the stove turned back from boil to slow simmer.

But for now, bookmark downersgrove.patch.com so you can stay informed on all things Downers Grove.

One thing I like about Patch is its commitment to local volunteerism. As a Patch editor, I’m required to volunteer locally at least five hours per year. The west suburban team, of which I am a member, recently pitched in at the West Suburban Humane Society in observance of the 100th Patch site coming on line.

So I’m taking this venue to invite members of local not-for-profits, civic and charitable organizations to let me know about your activities and also about your volunteer needs. The Downers Grove Patch site will have a place for such organizations to post their volunteer needs and I’m planning to profile volunteer organizations regularly on the site.

In the meantime, if your organization has need of volunteer help, send me the specifics in an email at elaine@patch.com. I’m currently looking for volunteer opportunities to include on the site at its September launch.

Thanks!

Go Mustangs!

16-14 Raiders in last year’s opener?  22-20 Mustangs comeback in the playoffs?

Matchups don’t get closer than that.  The last team Bolingbrook faced last year is the first team they face this year as Downers South (2009 9-3) again host the Raiders (2009 9-2) for the Mustangs season opener Friday at 7:30pm.  These two programs have been even matchups for years, and this season looks to continue one of the best west ‘burbs non-conference rivalries.  Both teams will be looking to make statements to each other, and to put the 8A division on notice.  Mustangs have all new defenders that will face an immediate and severe test from B’brook’s traditional punishing ground game.  Raiders face the same Mustang offensive line that moved the pile and the markers for coach Belskis last year.

The Mustangs ran the WSG table 6-0 last year after a halting start, finishing with a gritty quarterfinal playoff loss to offensive juggernaut Glenbard West 7-3.

WEEK 1: As expected, a tough close game featuring a B’brook high powered ground attack. Raider QB Aaron Bailey puts up 244 all purpose yards including a touchdown run of 81 yards and 42 yard run that set up another TD. Not expected, South commits three turnovers,  defense looks confused, and Mustangs never get passing game on track.   Raiders put together  enough ground drives to control the clock and with a late game INT seal the deal to beat the Mustangs 28-21.

Game recap here.

Go Trojans!

Downers North Trojans (2009 1-8) look to get off to a fast start to a new season hosting the Lockport Porters (2009 6-4) this Friday at 7:30.  They won’t be looking back on last year, but will be looking to return to playoff form in the WSS conference.  Working for them, a raft of starting sophomores return to this year’s D as seasoned juniors on a mission, and the offensive line that was a highlight of last year returns largely intact.

WEEK1: Trojan Fred Palma starts the Trojan season with a wild 68 yard TD run on the first play, but Lockport comes in with all cylinders running and leaves the Trojans in the dust with an impressive 42-20 victory.

Game recap here.

Go Broncos!

Did somebody say 5A STATE CHAMPS?

The Montini Broncos (2009 10-4) open their 2009 State Championship title defense…against Joliet Catholic (2009 11-3), the heavily favored team they beat in a never-sit-down, last second, go for it all, win or lose stunning upset 29-28 5A Championship game last fall in Champaign.

Can it get any harder?  You bet…play the legendary Hilltoppers (13 state championships since 1975) in Joliet on their home turf this Friday at 7:30, where they’re waiting to visit revenge upon the Broncos.  Montini brings their full bore four quarter effort, and team leaders with experience in big games.  Broncos will be working hard this season, looking for their 18th straight year in the playoffs.

WEEK 1:   Joliet Catholic (ranked #5 in preseason polls) pounds out 290 yards on the ground and adds two play action TD’s to beat Montini 21-7 on the Hilltoppers home field.  Bronco QB Matt Westerbrook injures shoulder.

Game recap here.

Theresa A. Carlquist of Downers Grove was arrested Aug.21 and charged with embezzling more than $100,000 from the Panther Junior Football organization.

Carlquist, 51, who turned herself into the Downers Grove Police Department, was charged with six felony theft counts. The arrest culminates a nine-month investigation by police into the Panther organization’s finances, police said. Carlquist is a former Panthers treasurer and former member of the Downers Grove Human Service Commission. She resigned in March from the commission, where she had served since May 2005, according to village sources.

The probe began in December 2009 after Panther officials “discovered discrepancies in the funding and account balances for the program,” police said. Carlquist was an immediately suspected and relieved of her duties as treasurer.  The subsequent investigation found she had written checks to herself on the Panther checking account for as much as $8,500.

Police allege Carlquist stole more than $100,000 from the Panthers between February 2008 and December 2009.  She was released after posting a $5,000 bond pending a Sept. 8 court date.

Chief Robert Porter commended DGPD detectives for their investigative work, which involved poring over numerous financial documents.

UPDATE: Carlquist has been charged with two counts of embezzlement and six counts of felony grand theft. If convicted, felonies in Illinois are crimes that can carry a punishment of a year or more in prison.

One in six residents now are classed as working poor, or live in poverty.

Barbara Rose takes an in-depth look at Poverty In DuPage as part of Elmhurst College’s year-long investigation into the subject (and victims) of a hidden malaise.

Unable to wait for the official launch, we took the opportunity to scope out the place at closing time Saturday night. And we liked what we saw (and what we purchased).

The store reminds me of a big-city specialty grocer: compact, visually pleasing and with lots of goodies artfully arranged in a compact space. There’s a fresh meat and fish counter, a very nice and competitively priced produce section, really good wine (including chilled whites) and liquor choices (Limoncello!), a nice cheese selection, plus a coffee bar.

The prepared foods department was closed by the time we got there, but I managed to snag some grilled asparagus and roasted vegetables — very nice. I noticed a lobster roll on the menu, which I would have liked to enjoy with a glass of wine at one of the outdoor tables. Maybe next time.

The store’s staffers (full disclosure: my kid is a part-timer there) are welcoming and knowledgeable. On the recommendation of Dennis, we bought a couple of bottles of wine, as well as a block of cheddar cheese, plus some whole wheat croccantini crackers and grapes to accompany it. Not a bad (late) evening repast.

(We weren’t alone in our positive response to the Lemon Tree. Wine from the store figured prominently in the offerings at a cocktail party I attended Friday evening.)

Looking forward to a return visit soon.

• Paid in the three fiscal years from 2004/5 through 2006/7 for meetings and negotiations- $241,061
• Paid in the three fiscal years from 2006/7 through 2009-10 for trial and appeal- $526,058

Total legal costs up through this weeks meeting: $767,119

Add that into Woodridge’s estimated costs of $800,000 and the bill comes to well over $1.5 million.