Skunk-fighting Community Group Endorses City Council Candidates

With just a few days until Election Day and the peak of skunk season around the corner, ElmhurstStinks.com, a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Elmhurst residents, released its endorsements for Elmhurst City Council.  

“While there are certainly more critical issues facing our city in the coming year, like a balanced budget, traffic congestion, crime and economic development, dealing with the skunk problem is one thing that all of Elmhurst can agree on,” ElmhurstStinks.com founder Jake Parrillo said.  “This election holds the key to helping residents solve the skunk issue.  These endorsed candidates have presented strong and creative plans to address this quality of life issue.  Elmhurst residents should consider these candidates to be the Skunk Fighters and vote to elect all four to the City Council:

• Ward One:  John Raniere
• Ward Three:  Dannee Polomsky
• Ward Four:  Mark D. Anglewicz
• Ward Six:  No Endorsement
• Ward Seven:  Dean O'Brien

Based on a answers from a questionnaire candidates submitted, Elmhurst Stinks formed an Endorsement Board made up of a diverse set of Elmhurst residents from a broad cross-section of neighborhoods.  Conducted with rigorous non-biased standards, the board voted to endorse in four contested races, while withholding an endorsement in the Sixth Ward. These endorsements signify to the voters across the city that these candidates are best equipped to handle an issue that everyone can agree on:  Elmhurst needs to do something about the skunk problem.

Along with these endorsements, ElmhurstStinks.com is proposing a creative approach for the city to bring back animal control while controlling costs.  Similar to how the city approaches sidewalk repairs, ElmhurstStinks is looking for an alderman to propose a 50/50 share plan for skunk removal.  Funded between the individual homeowner and the local government, along with having the program administered by City Hall, ElmhurstStinks.com believes that such a plan would not overburden the city while partially solving the problem. 

Founded in 2010, Elmhurst Stinks is a group of concerned citizens who have had enough of the skunk problem in our town.  We organized to demonstrate to the city that collectively our voice on improving the quality of life in Elmhurst needs to be heard.  As of today, more than 600 skunks sightings have been submitted to the site from all four corners of the city.  

Elmhurst is a wonderful place to live and work.  Members of Elmhurst Stinks wouldn't change a thing—except for getting rid of the skunks!