Monday, April 4, 2011

Down to the wire…. - Updated - Sorry No Takers!

Well, we’re down to the wire. Tomorrow is the big day. Within 48 hours Park Ridge Senior’s will know the makeup of the new Park Ridge Park District Board.

The question still outstanding is, the future of the jointly developed contract proposal.

Who stands with the Senior’s?  Who will commit to an up or down vote on this item by May 31, 2011?

We’ve heard a lot lately from local newspapers, commenter’s at this site and from other local bloggers, about the dreaded HUN SEIU back candidates. I for one do not possess this fear – yet!

But I am me and you are you. What is your SEIU-Fear tolerance?

Then there are those who fear a return of the INCUMBENT candidates. Where do they really stand on this vital subject? What is your INCUMBENT-Fear tolerance?

For Senior Center Members, this is a dilemma.

Should they back O’Brian and Mary Winn Ryan in spite of their contract-intransigence or should they “go to the dark side” and vote for those other guys, believing things couldn’t get much worse?

The issue driving Senior Center Member angst, is the currently-buried jointly developed contract proposal.

I was thinking. What would happen if PRPD’s current board members (as independent citizens) and future board members candidates committed by email addressed to this site, their pledge to vote UP or DOWN on the currently proposed, jointly developed contract proposal. What an interesting last minute twist that would be to this contest.

I can’t guarantee one changed vote to any candidate based on this post, but I say this, there are enough Senior’s and others looking at this site to possibly make a difference to one or more of you.

So here we go.

The Rules

Listed below are the names of current PRPD Board Commissioners followed by the names of remaining PRPD Board Commissioner Candidates.

Those parties listed below wishing to publically pledge their commitment (word of honor) to vote (no ifs, no ands, no buts)  UP or DOWN on the jointly developed contract proposal by May 31, 2011 can email me at cfre-il-emsd63@excite.com.  I will keep this pledge posting open until 10PM CDST.  Then, sometime shortly after 10PM, I will update the blog one last time.

No pledge posted in the “comment” section attached to this post will be accepted.

Board Member or Candidate Names

Committed(Yes/No)

Jim O'Brien, President

No

Rick Biagi, Vice President

No

David Herman, Treasurer

No

Stephen Vile, Secretary

No

Richard Brandt - SEIU

No

Mary Wynn Ryan

No

Nicholas Giordano – SEIU

No

Peter Wachowski - SEIU

No

Kristen Mattes - SEIU

No

Mel Thillens

No

Steve Hunst – Unopposed

No

What do they have to loose?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr. Butterly,

What a great idea. Let's see who responds. If nothing else you've served notice on what the senior's want.

Anonymous said...

hmmmmmm.....ok....so.....


1. What happens if none of them reply?? I mean you have given them a 7 hour window? Do they all read your blog?? Are phnes buzzing as we speak...."ya better get back to Butterly!!!!" It is 7:52 by my clock and they are all still no.

2. What happens if some of them do reply yes?? I mean you have already made your position clear. If I may quote......"Sorry kiddo, I just didn’t believe you".....So if she or they suddenly say yes you are now going to believe them??? Please!!

3. No disrespect, but you are asking us to believe you. You have made your psotion clear so if now suddenly a group you have supported shows up as "yes" on the chart I am supposed to believe you???

Very nice game but it only plays to those you already have. It won't get you any new votes.

Anonymous said...

You do realize that if the elected commissioners respond to your request, they would likely violate the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Probably not going to happen...

Kenneth Butterly said...

Anon: April 04, 2011 5:51PM,

All good questions!

Look, to be honest with you, I’d rather watch basketball tonight. I have no idea how this commitment idea is going to turn out. We thought it an interesting exercise. Let’s see how it plays.

As to your question of data integrity, there would be only one way to present the findings.

There will, should someone commit to proposition, be an update with an attachment. The attachment will be one or more candidate emails received. That’s how you and everyone else will know what I know.

Go Butler!

Kenneth Butterly said...

Anon: April 4, 2011 7:21 PM,

I'm not sure you're right. Anyway, if no one responds, it won't make any difference. Will it?

Anonymous said...

I hope you're not surprised that none of the Park Board members told you whether they would give an up or down vote on the Senior Center contract. They don't want to be up front with the electroate. If the seniors knew they have no intention of giving them an up or down vote, they'd probably lose the election, as the majority of people voting tomorrow will be seniors.

Kenneth Butterly said...

April 4, 2011 9:23 PM,

No I'm not. It would have been refreshing though.