Tom Poynton and the Independent Trustee candidates offer LZ residents the real horsepower needed to create a lean and effective village government that is fiscally sustainable and resident and business friendly.  Poynton has served on the Board for six years and has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to do what it really takes to serve as an elected official.  He worked to develop the Village’s first Strategic and Capital Improvement Plans in more than a decade, to ensure the Village invests wisely in the infrastructure our residents depend on. He took the lead in encouraging the…

To The Editor:   I am writing to voice my support for Ela First in the upcoming election and to share my perspective on some misinformation about Ela Township and the Foglia YMCA. Together, they have done great work for the community, and I was upset to hear candidates for Ela Township office attacking this work.  In 2000, Ela Township made a $1.5 million contribution to a YMCA Capital Campaign. Through this deal, Ela Township agreed to a 25-year lease for a 2,500 square foot Senior Center and 1,000 square foot Youth Center. This agreement served the people of Ela Township well for the last …

I have known Eileen Maloney for more than 10 years and I think she wouldmake a top-notch member of district 95's school board. She has beenregularly attending school board meetings for three years. She has anextensive background in construction defect litigation and risk managementand these skills will be an excellent complement to those already on theboard. Eileen represented district 95 in Washington D.C. in 2010 whenDistrict 95 was named a design challenge school for EPA's Tools for Schoolsprogram and has incorporated many of the provisions learned there intoDistrict 95's Indoor Air …

I find it most interesting to learn the long-term Township Supervisor, Lucy Prouty, led the current board to reduce new 2013 incoming revenues from our property taxes by $500,000 (about 20% less than the usual property taxes levied for Ela Township government operations; not including the Road District).  Do you think ELA FIRST would have made this tax levy reduction if the new ELA TAX REFORM PARTY slate were not sharing the facts with us about how much extra money is still in Ela Township’s bank accounts? There is no need to keep overpaying and letting these long term incumbents take on …

     We are hereby endorsing the incumbent Ela First Party for the upcoming election because we feel that they will continue to work hard for the residents of Ela Township and make it a priority for the well-being and safety of these residents.  Their ongoing programs for the area youth and elderly have had a very positive effect and their fiscal responsibility and being wise with taxpayers' dollars is second to none.  During their 8 year tenure they have progressively made our township a better place to live.  With the addition of community servant Lynn O'Brien, the Ela First Party is even …

  The April 9th Township election offers an interesting look at our democratic electoral system.  For any motivation anyone can run.  After reading and researching the township choices, I see one party is Ela First who is a long-experienced, talented group of people with a spotless track record.  Their motivation is clear.  They want to continue to expand programs that serve the Township while continuing to keep the tax levy down.  The Tax Reform Party is running a ticket with no Township experience and little experience in the public sector.  Their motivation is questionable.  They claim …

    I read with interest, Mr. Jim Johnson’s so-called “endorsements”.  I’ve always cast a wary eye toward personal political “endorsements”. I have no quarrel with his ELA First endorsement. But it should be noted this is not a dis-interested endorsement.  His spouse is a long time Ela Township Trustee and candidate. He said of me “I can’t support Poynton. He doesn’t have the skill to work well with others”  Mr. Johnson is entitled to his opinion but I disagree with it. I’ve worked very well with the residents, with local businesses, with staff and with my fellow Trustees. I am responsible to…

Dear Editor:   For many years I have been involved with Lake Zurich politics having served with a number of School and Village Board members, leaving the Village board in April 2010.  The evaluation of candidates I’ve seen seems to be based on their individual credentials.  Often little thought is given to social skills.  Can they work together, can they compromise, can they show respect for each other as well as those with differing opinions?  In the past we’ve had a village board and a Township board that were non-functional embarrassments.   I would like to share my endorsements.  The …

I recently received a direct mail piece from Louise Hayes and was upset to read her opinion regarding Republican candidate, Mike Nerheim. Ms. Hayes, who I know to be only a part-time Attorney in the Lake County State's Attorney’s Office, indicates in her mailer that Mike Nerheim puts the public at risk because of his occupation as a Criminal Defense Attorney.I am a 25 year veteran of Law Enforcement and my Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 66, unanimously endorsed Mike Nerheim in his candidacy for Lake County State's Attorney. I was well aware of Mike's current occupation when the endorsement …

As long as I have been in law enforcement, I have never gotten used to the great sorrow I feel when I learn a person has died as a result of a car accident.  To make matters worse, all too often I learn that those involved in the crash were not buckled up or alcohol may have been a contributing factor.  This senseless loss of human life is a harsh reality here in Lake County and across Illinois, year after year. Because we are committed to ending this tragedy, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will join with law enforcement in Illinois and throughout the nation for an intense crackdown on …

After failed attempts to D95 regarding the invalid 2009 radon test results, a formal request was made to remove the invalid D95 2009 radon results from their site. The tests were performed by an unlicensed individual; IEMA standards and protocols were not followed. D95 used 19 canisters districtwide. ALA and IEMA recommend over 600.  D95 defends the invalid radon results stating: “It should be noted that radon testing — and, in fact, IAQ testing in general — are recommended by the EPA but are NOT required by any agency.” Not true for D95, as the board approved the IAQ Management Plan wherein …

The thunder snow of 1 and 2 February 2011 is an event I will never forget.  It was the first time I remember experiencing thunder and lightening with a blizzard.  This storm was the third largest in recorded Lake Zurich history and I was concerned how the thunder snow would be handled.   I should have known better. The professionals took over. Our Public Works Department, headed by Director Dave Heyden and Superintendent of Public Works Mike Brown had a plan in place and they followed the plan to perfection. Our crews  were on the roads for 40 consecutive hours making our roads passable and …