Kirchenberg Pledges to Slash Forest Preserve Commissioner's Salary by 50%
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Don Kirchenberg, District 2 candidate for DuPage County Forest
Preserve wants to slash commissioner’s compensation. Kirchenberg is challenging
incumbent Commissioner Joe Cantore who is seeking his third term.
DuPage Forest Preserve Commissioners are currently paid
$53,500/yr, plus health insurance, pension and cell phone. Last year, Cantore's
compensation for the part-time position included a salary of $56,912/yr, plus
$13,949 in health insurance premiums paid by the District for a total
compensation of $70,861/yr. In addition, commissioners receive a taxpayer
provided cell phone. Cantore also participates in the IMRF pension plan which
makes him eligible to collect a pension of up to 80% of his salary.
Kirchenberg is advocating to slash the commissioners salary to $25,000.
"It's way too much money. Voter I talk to are upset about
these salaries. If elected, I will NOT take a pension and I will work to reduce
benefits for part-time commissioners." Kirchenberg stated.
Forest Preserve commissioners reduced their pay, but not their
benefits, last year. Forest Preserve commissioner salaries were reduced from
$57,000/yr to $53,500/yr which exceeds the $50,000 salary of elected DuPage
Board Members.
All other surrounding Forest Preserve Commissioners (Kane, Will,
Lake, McHenry, Cook Counties) receive $0 to $3000 per year, or a $30 per diem
per meeting.
Kirchenberg charges that the current Board of Commissioners at
the DuPage Forest Preserve are more interested in maintaining their own
salaries and benefits than studying the issues and protecting taxpayers
interests.
"The current commissioners vote as a block with little to
no open discussion. They want their high salaries and benefits, so they don't
challenge the status quo."
It's time for CHANGE at the Forest Preserve.
Learn more about Don Kirchenberg for DuPage County Forest
Preserve here:
http://citizensforkirchenberg.blogspot.com/
Lindy Sullivan
12:41 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Kirchenberg will NOT take the taxpayer subsidized pension. Commissioners can choose whether or not to take the pension. Commissioner Cantore District 2 and Commissioner Painter District 3 are all taking the taxpayer subsidized pension for this part time elected job. We think Kirchenberg has a realistic view on what is an appropriate salary. We love his belief and quote: "No one should get rich off of public service." He's right it is supposed to be "public service" not a way to get rich with these part time elected jobs! You can watch the brief video of less than 5 minutes of Kirchenberg at the LWV debate. Note Commissioner Cantore did not show up for the debate. Here is the Youtube video of the LWV debate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWtPi49cRtY
At least he was not interrupted and insulted like he was by President Pierotti at the FPD of DC meeting on 8/14 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAi8tGrF7KI
You are encouraged to let everyone know about this very good candidate for DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioner in District 2.
Cathy F.
2:12 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Can't find Cantore's taxpayer funded cell phone number anywhere...
The number listed on the forest preserve website is an office number to these 2 washer and dryer and coin laundry companies.
http://washing-machine-and-dryer-retailers.cmac.ws/cantore-box-cabinet-co/273/
http://www.speedqueen.com/multihousing/en-us/locate-provider.aspx?state=IL
Dan Stafford
5:13 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Don Kirchenberg really cares about our forest preserves. He has been organizing volunteer clean-ups of the Great Western Trail every Spring as long as I've known him. He was a leader in fighting not to give away forest preserve lands for a sweetheart business deal. He fought to get Com Ed to find an alternative to topping trees (and therefore killing them) and spraying massive amounts of herbicide along the prairie paths, down in Springfield, where it had teeth. This was all long before he was running for anything. As an environmentalist and a citizen who believes our forest preserves are one of the crown jewels of DuPage county, I firmly believe Don is one of the best choices you could have for a forest preserve commissdioner.
Gregory Bolts
10:25 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
So the voters want these part-time Commissioners to make $53,500 plus a taxpayer subsidized pension and full time benfits for an estimated cost to the tax payers of over $75,000 per year instead of candidates willing to do it for less or at least without a pension? It is unbelieveable they vote for these greeding "guys"!