[BCNnet] More Cook Co. election info

[Randi Doeker - Chicago]

Kudos to Deb Shore for the Tribune's editorial. 


 


For those who are not familiar with the MWRD race: It is basically a
popularity contest. There are 10 Dem. candidates vying for the three
openings.  You get 3 votes but your second vote actually lowers the
prospects of success for your first choice. Ditto for vote #3.  If you
feel strongly about one single candidate -like Deb Shore-then just
vote for her. 


 


Via the Sierra Club I interviewed several of the MWRD candidates; each
would bring great qualities to the job. But, of course, the MWRD
candidates who are just looking for a no-work job with a good pension
don't show up for Sierra Club discussions (and there are some people
who basically run on the free-money platform). The Sierra Club
endorsed just Debra because we felt she was superior.  


 


Early Voting continues through March 16th so there is no excuse to not
vote this year.  Link to poll location info here:
http://www.forrestclaypool.com/early_voting.html


 


Randi Doeker


Chicago


 


 


 


 


 


Tribune Editorial: Our choices for clean water



Published March 10, 2006

Largely out of sight--if not always out of sniffing range--the
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has a crucial environmental
mission: By processing 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater daily and
collecting storm water runoff that can carry dangerous pollutants, the
district tries to protect the water quality of Lake Michigan and this
region's rivers. This is a mammoth if obscure enterprise: The agency's
Stickney plant, one of seven that the district operates, is the
world's largest wastewater treatment facility.

A nine-member board of commissioners oversees the district--its
900-square-mile service area, roughly the shape of Cook County,
includes Chicago and 125 suburbs--as well as the district's
billion-dollar budget. Board members serve staggered terms, with three
seats up for election every two years. Nine Democrats are competing in
the March 21 primary for three positions. From this unusually strong
field, the Tribune endorses three candidates:

Priority One this year is the nomination of Debra Shore, a founding
director of Friends of the Forest Preserves and editor of Chicago
Wilderness magazine. Shore is a deeply respected and powerful voice in
Chicago-area conservation circles, and her concern for the
environmental quality of the district's land holdings--many of which
citizens use just as they do forest preserves--would make her a
welcome addition to a board that now devotes most of its energy to
engineering issues. Shore has excellent ideas for policy changes to
reduce the worsening impact of rainwater runoff as more and more of
the Chicago area is covered by buildings and pavement.

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