Why Glenview Needs an Independent

Glenview is a great community and has enjoyed the appearance of a well-run town. However, there is no such thing is a perfection when it comes to running a local government. This became all too clear more when it was reported that Glenview officials had consistently failed to properly document credit card purchases. The Patch--Glenview reported that an investigation conducted by the Pioneer Press uncovered that only approximately 2% of charges from restaurants that appeared on Village-issued credit cards included all of the required documentation. The Pioneer Press reviewed more than $500,000 of credit card purchases made by village officials in a three year period.

It was also uncovered that these credit card purchases included charges for alcoholic beverages which were listed as “’not reimbursable’ in the village's travel and training reimbursement policy”. The Village’s travel and training reimbursement policy applied to all credit card purchases. The Village Board of Trustees has since changed the village’s policy to allow for the purchase of alcohol at certain “recognition events.” Thus, they will continue their long-standing practice of using taxpayer funds to purchase alcohol at certain events for village officials and departing trustees.

The fact of the matter is Glenview’s problems can and are hidden under the rug due to the way in which our local government is run. Trustees are our town’s legislative body, they are charged with overseeing the operations and taking up matters concerning the general welfare of the village. Yet when those trustees are all part of the same political team, it can lead to a lack of transparency. My opponents have made the case on many occasions that they are all independent minded and diverse in thought. That may very well be true. However, this logic does not take into account that while they may be diverse in thought, they are not diverse in their source of political power. Every member on the slate and currently serving as trustee has won office based on the same formula, running as a Citizens for Glenview candidate.

Just like a sports team, a political team such as the “Citizens for Glenview” may have members with different approaches on how to work on village issues, but at end of the day they are all part of the Citizens for Glenview team, helping each other get elected and stay in power to the exclusion of others. While that may be good for the Citizens of Glenview team, it is not good for the Village of Glenview.

When everyone on the board is from the same political party, they tend to stick together even when it might be to the detriment of the village. This was recently made apparent when Chuck Gitles criticized me on social media for criticizing the board for lack of leadership on certain issues. When I brought up the boards expenditure of taxpayer dollars on alcohol, Mary Cooper directly messaged me on Facebook to advise me to worry about what other trustees think.

My opponents may be more concerned about the Citizens for Glenview team then they are about the people they are supposed to represent-a natural consequence of a single party system. There is no doubt in my mind that these people are good people and are getting into public service for good intentions, but groupthink and “membership” are powerful psychological forces. When the members of a government unit are put into power through membership in a single political party, the team will sometimes come before the people. We see this play out every day in our state and federal politics, when party membership gets in the way of actually representing the constituents.

That is why I am running as an independent and that is why I refused to interview for the Citizens for Glenview party. The citizens of Glenview deserve elected officials who do not achieve their power through membership in a select group but through the people themselves. Power is a tricky thing, but if it is derived from the wrong place or lacks checks and balances then it won’t be taken as responsibly as it should. As an independent trustee my authority will come directly from the people, not from the local party. As such, I will shine a light on our local government- bringing much needed transparency. So when you go to the polls by April 2, consider whether Glenview needs more of the same “team” or if it is time we have elected officials who are truly independent of one another.

- Benjamin Polony, Candidate for Glenview Trustee