"When all think alike . . .no one is thinking."
W. Lippman

There are issues and concerns that transcend any one of us individually and speak to the continued health of our community - our families, our homes, our parks, our businesses - and the accessibility of our government: this guiding principle brought me to the decision to seek the office of Village Trustee.

By way of introduction: My wife, Nancy, and I have been raising our four children in Riverside since 1980. After college, I taught multiple-handicapped deaf children in the Chicago Public School System. I have been elected to two schools boards, including St. Mary's, and continue to be actively involved in the field of education: currently by training attorneys through on-going legal education programs held at DePaul, University, the University of Chicago, and elsewhere. During law school, I worked as a Legislative Assistant to the President of the Illinois Senate. As an Assistant Public Defender, I have provided legal services to indigents for almost a quarter of a century. In addition to litigation, my current management position within the Office if the Public Defender encompasses a wide range of personnel issues, many similar to those that significantly strain our Village's budget.

A major concern is that with a single political party controlling the entirety of Riverside's elected government and its purse strings, exclusionary tendencies will set in. This is not meant to cast aspersions on anyone, but to call attention to a natural phenomenon: the structure that assures political survival tends to take precedence over building broad-based community support. Over the course of the last seven consecutive biannual elections (from 1987), the voters of Riverside have chosen to have an Independent (non-Caucus) presence on the Village Board. For the twenty-plus years I have lived in Riverside, a named political party has never appeared on the local ballot, until now.

Riverside is a community rich in cultural capital -our historic heritage - and social capital - the many talented volunteers who generously donate their time - but we are strapped for 'bankable' capital. It is this dilemma that dictates that we be especially cautious with available funds. If Lord Acton's famous observation is correct, that "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely": can Riverside afford the cost of turning its government entirely over to a single political party? As a qualified, engaged Independent, I will see that such tendencies are kept in check and that our local government remains open. For, if you are part of the problem (Caucus dominated administrations, past and present), you cannot be the solution.

Riversidians have come to expect, and indeed deserve, a certain level of services. That expectation must be met. Inclusion of an Independent Trustee on our Village Board is one way to insure that vital concerns will be investigated, aired and a balance struck. Hard fiscal decisions may need to be made, and non-alignment with any political party or special interest group will allow me to do what is necessary in an objective, fair manner.

Our central business district along Burlington has developed a forlorn, if not slightly blighted, appearance. Whether the vacancies, dumpsters and heavy equipment are by happenstance or design, a tone has been created that is not acceptable given the proud, historic nature of our community. An Independent voice can make sure that studies are not shelved, their messages misplaced, and competence replaced with cronyism.

It is important that the major strides Riverside has taken toward open and participatory government not be set aside. The passing of the torch should not diminish the flame.

For more information, log on to: www.riverside4you.org