Faithful reader Karrie suggested I also post when the Peoria Park District trustees’ terms expire. I think that’s a fantastic idea:
| Timothy J. Cassidy | 2007 |
| Stanley P. Budzinski | 2007 |
| James A. Cummings | 2007 |
| Jacqueline J. Petty | 2007 |
| Roger P. Allen | 2009 |
| Robert L. Johnson, Sr. | 2009 |
| Matthew P. Ryan | 2009 |
They’re not as well-known as the school board members. You don’t see them in the newspaper much. But they spend a lot of your tax money and have made some questionable decisions. For instance, they’re the ones who want to toss a $565,000 rail asset in the garbage and drive Carver Lumber out of business so they can ride on a taxpayer-funded bike path on warm summer days.
Note that four out of the seven board members (including President-at-Large Tim Cassidy) come up for reelection next year.
The Spring 2007 election is going to be an interesting one. I assume all of these end with the Spring 2007 election, in tandem with the City Council.
Filing dates for you budding candidates:
Park District & School Board – Jan 29th through February 5th
City Council – Dec 11th through December 18th.
Another little nugget as I am reading some of this election stuff, is that write in candidates still have to file papers (Declaration of Intent) to be a write in candidate. Not only that, the candidate has to file that Declaration in all relevant voting districts. So if Joe voter goes and writes a name in and there is no ‘Declaration’ on file, that vote is wasted, tossed out.
That Declaration of Intent has to be filed at least 7 days before the election.
You bring up a great point, Mahkno — the need for candidates. I don’t think any park district trustees have been opposed in recent elections. I think Petty was elected as a write-in candidate back in ’99. I’m pretty sure Cassidy has been unopposed for president the last couple of times he’s run.
Do you have to live in the City of Peoria to run for Park District Bd? I’m out in the county.
You have to be a resident of the park district, not necessarily the city:
The park district’s website says “the Peoria Park District’s boundaries encompass approximately 60 square miles in Peoria County.” I’d say the easiest way to see if you are in the district is to look at your property tax bill. If the park district is taking your money, you’re in the district.
So are you running, CJ?
No.
The declaration of intent by a write in candidate sounds like an unconstitutional requirement to me.
CJ, the amount of money the Park District spends is obscene. Look at your tax bill and compare the Park District rate with the other rates and you will be amazed. And that is just local property taxes. Doesn’t count the state, federal and assorted other taxpayer money they spend. It’s the perfect place for budding empire builders to go. Voters don’t pay much attention to these races. They should.
They are not just a harmless little group of tree huggers.
CJ, please post the names and info. on challengers who come forward so we can support them and help “throw the bums out”.
Peoria Pleasure Driveway and Park District tax rate: 0.70886% on my last property tax bill. It ranks fourth, behind School District 150 (4.49151%), City of Peoria (0.94646%), and Peoria County (0.8489%).
If there are any challengers for the park board, I’ll report on them. I fear there won’t be any, however… unless CGiselle12 runs.
Park District eh…. budding empire builders…. mmm … interpunction…
How often do these sots meet? Does the ‘job’ come with any bling?
The PPD’s annual budget increased from about $31 million in 2005 to over $45 million in 2006. This size operation and the major projects undertaken and planned suggest the need for an experienced and actively involved senior management and Board. This is serious business. If you read the Board meeting minutes and the items on which the Board spends most of its time you wonder about priorities.
Interpunction!
Interesteing,
Many of the PPD board members serve on a number of other Peoria boards [no names please]. Many people call this ‘giving back to the community.’ I am not sure what to call it. To be sure, most people do not have the drive, ambition, experience, it takes to serve on a
community board. Of course, I see current or retired corporate execs on every board from the PPD to the Museum. How does a ‘little’ money and a ‘little’ political clout effect ones’ thinking? Perhaps being white collar CAT makes you all knowing?
And just wait for tonight, maybe the PPD will approve to pay the loan costs and interest (not to exceed 3.5% per annum on yet another $2.2 million loan not to exceed ten (10) years for the PZS) to build the houses for the hippo, meerkat et al! So that would mean that the taxpayers are paying approx $350,000 per year on the first $10 million loan and another $75,000 per year on the second $2.2 million (if approved) for up to ten (10) years and the PPD did not have $65,000 to fix the paraput? SA, that should indicate what the PPD values as priorities.