A Choice In The 15th District

This November, the voters of the 15th District will have a choice in who represents them in Springfield. The current State Representative, John D’Amico, is the nephew of 39th Ward Alderman Margaret Laurino and has run unopposed since his initial election in 2004. His challenger is Greg Bedell, a candidate running on fundamental principles such as protecting people’s income, lowering taxes and providing parents a choice in education. For many, this election will determine the future of economic stability in Illinois.

Earlier this year both Niles and Morton Grove hired lobbyists to represent their interests in Springfield. Dissenters such as Niles Trustee Chris Hanusiak argue that this job is synonymous with their State Representative and that the money could be better spent on more pressing issues. Niles agreed to pay Al Ronan’s lobbying firm $60,000 along with a clause that specifies he may charge for “additional expenses.” Morton Grove has hired Dan Shomon for $4,000 a month plus traveling expenses. Shomon is a former Obama political director and Ronan a former Democratic State Representative.

These expenditures come at a time when residents of Niles and Morton Grove are facing substantial increases in their water rates. In 2013 alone the Village water rate increased by 15%. According to the Morton Grove Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of 2013, “In 2011, The City of Chicago announced a series of rate increases over a 4 year period equal to 70%.”

Representative D’Amico is currently the district’s Assistant Superintendent at the Chicago Department of Water Management. The City of Chicago’s official website lists his annualized salary at $102,024. This is in addition to his legislative salary of approximately $78,000. D’Amico voted “Yes” for Senate Bill 9 which was appropriately titled “Increases Utility Rates.” Once Governor Quinn vetoed the bill, D’Amico again voted “Yes” to override the Governor’s veto.

It seems inevitable that after the election is over, Pat Quinn and the Democrat Majority will make the “temporary” income tax hike permanent. Equally worrying is that a massive property tax increase will likely also be necessary to pay the State’s unfunded pension liabilities. In addition to Pat Quinn as the Governor, the Democrats have a veto-proof supermajority in legislature. This gives them the unbridled ability to pass any law without a single Republican vote. In the House, Mike Madigan retains his supermajority by only one seat.

Illinois is in immediate need of abandoning this one-party system. Without accountability and debate, Democrats are unrestrained in their policies. Policies that have had a clear and negative impact on the state of Illinois. They depend on voter apathy and take for granted the very people they have sworn to protect. Voters in the 15th District have a very distinct choice this November. A choice of proven failure or renewed opportunity. If elected, Greg Bedell will end a decade long disrepair and restore the representation of people’s interests in Springfield.