A Threat to Fellowship in Our Community

My name is Jason Rausch and many of you saw my name on April 2nd’s Municipal Ballot. I want to express a sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. I am proud to represent you as a Plainfield Township Park District Commissioner. It is in that capacity that I am writing today. I feel it is important that my constituents have a greater understanding of how politics, even in Plainfield, can erode trust in government and harm our community.

A common definition of ‘community’ focuses on the feeling of fellowship that is created among its members. As Park District Commissioners we are charged with creating parks that serve the entire community regardless of age, race, economic background, or political affiliation. We know that the feeling of fellowship associated with vibrant communities is only possible when the diverse voices that make up that community are treated equally. Sadly this is not always the case in Plainfield.

A little over a year ago I was working closely with Daniel Biss’ campaign as an unpaid community organizer in Will County. Daniel’s campaign asked me to locate a venue for a meet and greet. The Plainfield Township Community Center (PTCC) is owned by the Plainfield Township. Through an intergovernmental agreement, the Plainfield Park District administers senior programming for the Township at the PTCC. The intergovernmental agreement also allows both the Township and the Park District to use the PTCC for additional services or to offer the facility for rent to the general public. My request to rent the facility was declined by the Township because, I was told, political events were not allowed as part of the “building usage agreement.”

Last month, I received an invitation from the Plainfield Township Republican Organization (PTRO) and Wheatland Township Republican Organization (WTRO) to attend a meet and greet, for municipal election candidates, to be held at the Plainfield Township Community Center (PTCC). Of course this immediately struck a nerve. These two organizations are political in nature and my RSVP was to be made to Michelle Smith, a long time voice of the Plainfield Republican Party. Knowing that the Plainfield Park District, of which I am a Commissioner, was party to the intergovernmental agreement that governs the building, I asked to read the document. The larger agreement contained language that references a ‘building usage agreement.’ When I asked to see the usage agreement it was determined that it does not exist and was therefore never implemented.

So, what does this have to do with community? I think a great deal. I would venture to say that in your day to day life you do not create agreements with all of your friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers that govern how you will treat one another. We treat those around us with respect and dignity because that is the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do even if you have differing views. We do not need a usage agreement. I’m a Park District Commissioner but I certainly don’t advocate that only the three thousand citizens who voted for me be allowed to use our parks. Unfortunately, certain actors, perhaps on the Township board, believe that only Republican voices should be heard. Not only did the Township block Daniel Biss’ meet and greet last year, we are now hearing that the Republican organizers of last month’s Township approved meet and greet failed to invite several Village Trustee candidates (https://patch.com/illinois/plainfield/news-flash-municipal-elections-plainfield). The Plainfield Township Community Center (PTCC) has the word ‘community’ in its name. How can you create a sense of fellowship if you exclude voices?

It is my sense that in these turbulent times it is necessary to be active in our community. President Obama told us, when you learn from and about folks who share different views and have diverse backgrounds, “it’s a little harder to convince yourself that their struggles aren’t your problem.” I ran to retain my seat on the Park Board to ensure Plainfield’s parks are open to everyone. As a Commissioner I will do my part to encourage my friends in the Republican Party to have the integrity to do the same.