From the Editor

Got Something to Say? Want to Endorse A Candidate? Here's How

With elections approaching, we received a few emails about this recently, so we thought we would share the "how to" in a story.

Patch doesn't make endorsements, but as with everything happening in the community, we want to hear what you have to say. If you want to make an endorsement, tell us who you want to endorse and why, in a letter to the editor. We will be accepting and publishing endorsement letters through Friday, April 1. How To Endorse A Candidate To send an endorsement letter to the editor, visit the bottom right hand corner of this page, look for the "Contribute" box and click on "Send us a news tip." Fill out the required fields—(check out the photo gallery to see examples)—and make sure to let us know the message is a letter to the editor. (Otherwise it may not be clear that you intended for it to be published.) Your endorsement will be sent directly …

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Police Statistics Show Fighting and Illegal Drug Reports Declining at Hinsdale South

Figures contrast with statements made by a school board member and two board candidates.

Is there a problem with fighting and illegal drug use at Hinsdale South High School? District 86 Board Member Dianne Barrett asserted at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting that there was. Two school board candidates repeated those allegations at a public forum later in the week. “There’s a problem there,” candidate Bruce Davidson said. “It needs to be addressed.” “Part of the problem is there’s a lack of recognition there’s a problem,” said candidate Claudia Manley. “There has got to be a recognition that this is a problem, and it has to be addressed.” Manley said some students were avoiding walking down certain hallways to avoid issues. “I guess I did not realize there was such a large issue facing Hinsdale South,” candidate …

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Election 2011

Budget Problems Dominate District 181 Forum

Six candidates for four school board seats offered ideas on cutting costs

Cutting costs to reduce or eliminate projected budget deficits while maintaining educational quality emerged as the primary concern of District 181 School Board candidates participating in a forum Thursday at Clarendon Hills Middle School. Six candidates running for four open seats on the board took part in the event, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and The Doings. In his opening statement, candidate Scott Musil said the district was facing a $1.5 million deficit over the next five years, which would cut the district’s fund balance from $19 million to $9.9 million. He said one of his top priorities in trying to address that budget imbalance would be through negotiation with the teachers’ union. “The teachers here are doing a great …

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District 86 Electoral Board Rejects Objections to School Board Candidate’s Nomination Papers

Action clears way for Jennifer Planson to remain on District 86 ballot.

The Education Officers Electoral Board of Hinsdale Township High School District 86 rejected objections Thursday night raised to the nomination papers for school board candidate Jennifer Planson. The board, composed of current school board members not up for re-election in this April’s election, voted 2-0 against objections raised by Terrence O’Malley and Donald O’Neil, both of Oak Brook. Dennis Brennan and DeeDee Gorgol were the only board members in attendance. Board member George Kumis was delayed at a train station, according to board attorney Alan Mullins, who guided participants through the hearing process. O’Malley and O’Neil’s objections to Planson’s nomination papers were based on the fact that “Hinsdale District 86” was written …

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Last Day to File Petitions for Village and District Board Seats

Hinsdale caucus candidates currently are running unopposed.

Barring any last-minute candidate petition filings, six candidates will run unopposed in local elections this spring. During the consolidated elections scheduled for April 5, Hinsdale voters will choose three village board members and three library board members. Current Hinsdale trustee J. Kimberly Angelo is one of the candidates who has filed a petition. Although he's already on the board, this will be his first time running for election. Angelo was appointed to his current position in 2009 to fill the seat vacated by Tom Cauley, when Cauley was elected village president. The other two candidates for the village board include Chris Elder and William Haarlow.  Elder is a certified public accountant and currently serves as a member of …

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Election 2010

Hinsdale Votes to Increase Village Sales Tax

Money will be used to improve Hinsdale's streets and sewers.

The voters have spoken. After three failed attempts, the referendum to increase the sales tax in Hinsdale from 7.25 percent to 8.25 percent has passed. The money will be used to fund repairs and improvements to Hinsdale's streets and sewers. It was an uphill battle to get this measure passed, and Village Manager Dave Cook says it couldn't have happened without the efforts of concerned members of the community. "A lot of people put a lot of work into getting this passed. It was truly a grassroots effort. I am very happy that it passed," said Cook. John Karstrand, a former president of the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce and current member of the village Economic Development Commission, was one of the champions of the referendum. He led a …

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Election 2010

Hinsdale Votes in Favor of Sales Tax Increase

Increase will raise an estimated $1.5 million a year to help implement the village's infrastructure master plan.

 Hinsdale residents have voted in favor of increasing the sales tax in Hinsdale from  7.25 percent to 8.25 percent. The increase in sales tax will go towards funding infrastructure improvements in the community. All of Hinsdale's 20 precincts in DuPage County and its two precincts in Suburban Cook County have reported their numbers.

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