Don Kirchenberg thanks the voters and supporters.
Press Release/Letter to the Editor: November 6, 2012
Don Kirchenberg, candidate for the position of Commissioner of
the DuPage County Forest Preserve District serving District 2 would like to
thank the voters for their support in today’s election. Kirchenberg stated “To
receive a single vote is nice but to get tens of thousands of votes in this
election http://electionresults.dupageco.org/Results/2012/General/candidates-1.htm is very
flattering.” He also wishes to thank everyone that supported his candidacy with
their donations, literature distribution and of course votes. Don wishes to
congratulate all the winners including Commissioner Cantore.
As an experienced and dedicated volunteer, Don has worked hard for many decades in
DuPage County, to protect our environment including the forest preserves. He
plans to continue his volunteer work in these areas. Don states “this campaign
may be over but the need to protect our forest preserves is
ongoing.”
Don continues “the election was important because with 3 new Commissioners they can
now make changes to how the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County operates.”He encourages all the Commissioners to improve their communication with more evening meetings and the broadcasting of all meetings on the web and cable TV. Don still hopes they will oppose the building of any new maintenance facilities in the forest preserves including the Blackwell Forest Preserve.
Don believes all Commissioners should adopt a pledge to no longer accept gifts or
campaign contributions from employees of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage
County or companies that do business with the FPD of DuPage County. The practice
of contractors giving donations to the elected officials at all levels of the
government that votes to give them contracts needs to be eliminated.
SUMMARY: Don has lived in DuPage County for over 23 years. Don has
served on many committees and the boards of directors of non-profit groups as a
volunteer to help our communities.
Don currently serves as Voluntary Chairman of the Friends of the Great Western
Trails. More information about the Great Western Trails and this group can be
found at web site: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/
Note the next annual all volunteer trails cleanup has been scheduled for Saturday, 4/27/13 rain or shine.
The polls are open today 11/6/12 from 6AM to 7PM and later if there is a line waiting to vote. Your employer must allow you 2 hours to vote.
You don't get paid but if you pick the best candidates the payback could be huge!
Please pass this on along with the link to the campaign blog. http://citizensforkirchenberg.blogspot.com/
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I have always believed and said "No one should get rich off of public service." The thousands of citizens I have spoken with these past few months agree with my position on the excessively high salary of $53,500 plus benefits for a part time job along with the unlimited and unethical campaign contributions the current Forest Preserve Commissioners of DuPage County accept. We need to get this message to more voters. Go to protectourforestpreserves.org for more info. Please pass this on!See More Kirchenberg Pledges to Slash Forest Preserve Commissioner's Salary by 50% lisle.patch.com
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DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioners accept unlimited campaign contributions from companies doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. This is unethical and should be illegal!
Here are specific examples where one of the DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioners (Joe Cantore from District 2) has accepted unlimited campaign contributions from companies where he has approved pricing and many times no bid contracts worth hundreds of thousands totaling millions of our tax dollars. “Accepting any campaign contributions from any companies doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is unethical. It should be illegal” states Don Kirchenberg, candidate for Forest Preserve Commissioner, District 2. “I have not and will not accept any monies from any company doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.”
These donations were reported to the IL State Board of Elections for contributions received in the past few years. Don Kirchenberg explains “the recent contributions to Commissioner Cantore from his fundraiser held in October, 2012 will not have to be reported until year end. Here are enough examples that show a bad pattern that we believe is wrong.”
· Cantore reported $2,800.00 in campaign contributions from Kuhn Mitchell Moss a Naperville law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Kuhn Mitchell Moss in an amount exceeding $640,000 for legal services.
· Cantore reported $1,000.00 in campaign contributions from Chapman & Cutler a Chicago law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Chapman & Cutler in an amount exceeding $175,000 for legal services.
· Cantore reported $900.00 in campaign contributions from Day & Robert PC a Naperville law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Day & Robert in an amount exceeding $325,000 for legal services.
· Cantore reported $750.00 in campaign contributions from Wight Architects and its owners. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Wight Architects in an amount exceeding $300,000 for design work for development (new building, etc) at Willowbrook Forest Preserve.
· Cantore reported $850.00 in campaign contributions from Christopher Burke Engineering. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Christopher Burke Engineering in an amount exceeding $150,000.
· Cantore reported $350.00 in campaign contributions from Coffman Truck Sales owner Frank Coffman. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Coffman Truck Sales for the purchase of truck parts in an amount exceeding $30,000.
There are additional examples for Commissioner Cantore and with the other Commissioners. Why hasn't the Board of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County adopted an ordinace to prohibit these types of pay-to-play contributions?
Ref: http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/ContributionsSearchByAllContributions.aspx
“We need a rule that stops these unethical campaign contributions. As a Commissioner I would work to pass a rule making these contributions illegal. No one should get rich from public service.” concluded Don Kirchenberg.
Please consider passing along and commenting on the important issue of "pay to play" in DuPage County. Here is a news link from the Patch.com Here is the link to the posting at the Elmhurst Patch: http://elmhurst.patch.com/blog_posts/kirchenberg-opposes-pay-to-play-contracting-at-dupage-forest-preserve It can also be found at the Downers Grove and Lisle Patch where you may also post comments.
Here are specific examples where one of the DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioners (Joe Cantore from District 2) has accepted unlimited campaign contributions from companies where he has approved pricing and many times no bid contracts worth hundreds of thousands totaling millions of our tax dollars. “Accepting any campaign contributions from any companies doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is unethical. It should be illegal” states Don Kirchenberg, candidate for Forest Preserve Commissioner, District 2. “I have not and will not accept any monies from any company doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.”
These donations were reported to the IL State Board of Elections for contributions received in the past few years. Don Kirchenberg explains “the recent contributions to Commissioner Cantore from his fundraiser held in October, 2012 will not have to be reported until year end. Here are enough examples that show a bad pattern that we believe is wrong.”
· Cantore reported $2,800.00 in campaign contributions from Kuhn Mitchell Moss a Naperville law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Kuhn Mitchell Moss in an amount exceeding $640,000 for legal services.
· Cantore reported $1,000.00 in campaign contributions from Chapman & Cutler a Chicago law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Chapman & Cutler in an amount exceeding $175,000 for legal services.
· Cantore reported $900.00 in campaign contributions from Day & Robert PC a Naperville law firm. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Day & Robert in an amount exceeding $325,000 for legal services.
· Cantore reported $750.00 in campaign contributions from Wight Architects and its owners. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Wight Architects in an amount exceeding $300,000 for design work for development (new building, etc) at Willowbrook Forest Preserve.
· Cantore reported $850.00 in campaign contributions from Christopher Burke Engineering. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Christopher Burke Engineering in an amount exceeding $150,000.
· Cantore reported $350.00 in campaign contributions from Coffman Truck Sales owner Frank Coffman. In the past two years, Cantore has approved Forest Preserve payments in no-bid contracts to Coffman Truck Sales for the purchase of truck parts in an amount exceeding $30,000.
There are additional examples for Commissioner Cantore and with the other Commissioners. Why hasn't the Board of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County adopted an ordinace to prohibit these types of pay-to-play contributions?
Ref: http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/ContributionsSearchByAllContributions.aspx
“We need a rule that stops these unethical campaign contributions. As a Commissioner I would work to pass a rule making these contributions illegal. No one should get rich from public service.” concluded Don Kirchenberg.
Please consider passing along and commenting on the important issue of "pay to play" in DuPage County. Here is a news link from the Patch.com Here is the link to the posting at the Elmhurst Patch: http://elmhurst.patch.com/blog_posts/kirchenberg-opposes-pay-to-play-contracting-at-dupage-forest-preserve It can also be found at the Downers Grove and Lisle Patch where you may also post comments.
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At the Public Comment part of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County meeting held on 8/14/12 when being rudely interrupted by President Dewey Pierotti I did not fall into the trap of his false personal attacks. Most importantly President Pierotti and the Commissioners in attendance (Commissioner Cantore, District 2 was absent again) failed again to answer the questions raised by citizens about why they do not ask questions or when they make decisions even make them known until we read about them in the newspapers. Thank you to Steve Leopoldo for taking these videos since the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is one of the last government bodies to not videotape and broadcast their meetings on cable and/or the internet.
We need new ideas and new leadership including new Commissioners to improve the operations of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. Get more info. about efforts to improve the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: www.protectourforestpreserves.org& www.stevefordupage.com _____________________________________  Photograph from a news article in the Chicago Tribune about Don Kirchenberg's ongoing efforts to protect the trees, trails and trail users in DuPage County |
For many years Don Kirchenberg has dedicated himself to protecting the forest preserves, trees, wildlife and trails in DuPage County.
Don Kirchenberg is a lifelong resident of the Chicago area including 23 years in DuPage County currently residing in Downers Grove, IL. As the Forest Preserve Commissioner serving District 2 Don will work to protect our forest preserves and tax dollars. Don will: > Work to reduce the annual salary of the Part-Time Commissioner position of over $53,000 to $25,000. > Stop single bid contracts. > Not accept any campaign donations from any companies doing business with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. > Oppose Forest Preserve District employment of Commissioners’ family members. ____________________________________ |
Problems with the Forest Preserve District:
Since the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County was separated from the DuPage County Board they have been allowed to run as an exclusive club by the same group of politicians. They have allowed the following questionable practices:
$ Given contracts to companies totaling many millions of our tax dollars without competing bids.
$ Been paid over $53,000 per year with a pension and full time benefits for a part time job.
$ Hired family members with well paying jobs.
We need a better Commissioner in District 2.
Elect Don Kirchenberg Forest Preserve Commissioner.
VOTE TUESDAY, 11/6/12
$ Given contracts to companies totaling many millions of our tax dollars without competing bids.
$ Been paid over $53,000 per year with a pension and full time benefits for a part time job.
$ Hired family members with well paying jobs.
We need a better Commissioner in District 2.
Elect Don Kirchenberg Forest Preserve Commissioner.
VOTE TUESDAY, 11/6/12
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Issues and Problems in the DuPage Forest Preserve District Blog by Don Kirchenberg
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DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioner Joe Cantore, District 2 was absent again at today's (10/9/12) Forest Preserve Commission meeting.
He and any other Commissioner get paid whether they attend the meetings or not. Their salary for this part-time job is $53,500 plus full time benefits, a tax payer subsidized pension, free cell phone and free laptop with 24 hour computer tech support. The salary and extra benefits are too high. The salary should be reduced to $25,000.
In addition the Commissioners should only be allowed a set number of paid absences. Let's start with 3 paid absences for the year. Then after the 3 absences they get their
salary reduced by the percentage of time that was missed for the month. If there
are 4 meetings that month and one meeting is missed than that month's salary
payment is reduced by 25%. With only 6 Commissioners the tracking of attendance
and paid salaries should be straight forward. Of course if the Commissioners
attended the meetings like they are supposed to there would be no need for the
extra work tracking their attendance.
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He and any other Commissioner get paid whether they attend the meetings or not. Their salary for this part-time job is $53,500 plus full time benefits, a tax payer subsidized pension, free cell phone and free laptop with 24 hour computer tech support. The salary and extra benefits are too high. The salary should be reduced to $25,000.
In addition the Commissioners should only be allowed a set number of paid absences. Let's start with 3 paid absences for the year. Then after the 3 absences they get their
salary reduced by the percentage of time that was missed for the month. If there
are 4 meetings that month and one meeting is missed than that month's salary
payment is reduced by 25%. With only 6 Commissioners the tracking of attendance
and paid salaries should be straight forward. Of course if the Commissioners
attended the meetings like they are supposed to there would be no need for the
extra work tracking their attendance.
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With long time and very dedicated trails supporter Mike Sinner at the Great Western Trail and Churchill Woods at Swift Rd in Lombard, IL before the furniture, etc was pulled out from an illegal party site. The DuPage County Sheriff's Department SWAP program participants moved the larger and heavy items. Thanks again to all for their help cleaning and supporting the trails year round!
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Paid for by Citizens for Kirchenberg. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available at the Board’s web site (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL.
Paid for by Citizens for Kirchenberg. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available at the Board’s web site (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL.