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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Info from the Living Wage Campaign re: County District 9 Dem Primary Candidates |
Current rating: 0 |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
17 Mar 2002
Modified: 18 Mar 2002 |
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The Champaign County Living Wage Association does not endorse candidates for public office, but we do want to supply voters with information on candidates whose positions support the Living Wage. The following text was sent to members of the Living Wage e-mail list following a discussion at the March 16 Living Wage meeting. |
At Saturday's Living Wage meeting, a discussion was held among those present about this Tuesday's primary. Although the Living Wage campaign does not endorse candidates, we have oftentimes in the past surveyed candidates about their support of the Living Wage in order to communicate that information to our members. We did not survey candidates for this primary, because few of the races were contested.
In Champaign County Board District 9, the official Democratic slate for the three positions available on the ballot is composed of the incumbents: Bob Kirchner, Barbara Wysocki, and Steve Beckett. Bob's support was vital in getting the Living Wage resolution out of committee and Barbara supported the resolution at the full board level. Steve claimed that he supported the concept of the Living Wage, but did not support the Living Wage resolution, proposing a weakened substitute that failed. Steve was the only county board Democrat to vote against the Living Wage resolution, where he was joined by two Republicans in voting against the successful Living Wage resolution.
One of our members recently spoke with Stan Summers, who is also running for one of the Democratic county board slots in District 9. Stan stated that he supports the Living Wage resolution that the county passed.
The results of this fall's general election are important to retaining support for the Living Wage at the county level. Some hard decisions have to be made to fund the nursing home and the proposed rehab bond project, while paying all the employees at the home a Living Wage, beginning Dec. 1. We need a county board that will continue to support a Living Wage in the future.
Stan Summers is a candidate with significant experience, having previously served on the county board for a number of years in the 70s and 80s. He is retired from Urbana Schools and is a union member with extensive experience with labor issues.
Living Wage supporters are not typically single issue voters, but they are thoughtful voters. Those who will be voting in the County Board District 9 Democratic primary to elect three candidates to stand in the November general election should give serious thought to supporting Stan Summers over Steve Beckett on Tuesday. They should also consider supporting both Bob Kirchner and Barbara Wysocki for their demonstrated commitment to the Living Wage.
It was agreed at the meeting that I would communicate this information to Living Wage members and ask that, as appropriate, this information be passed on to those who it may be of use in to in making decisions about voting on Tuesday.
Whatever your choice, please remember to vote on Tuesday.
Mike Lehman
Note: Our website is down right now, but we anticipate it will be restored to service and updated soon. |
See also:
http://www.prairienet.org/livingwage
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Info on Republican Board Candidates in District 4 |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
18 Mar 2002
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Further important information for voters who support a Living Wage:
It has come to my attention that there is one other disputed race for the Champaign County Board during the primary election tomorrow, that between four Republicans for nominations to the three seats in District 4. Steve O'Connor has been a long-time supporter of the Living Wage and voted for the Living Wage resolution. Joan Dykstra also voted for the Living Wage resolution. Greg Knott, however, voted against the resolution. Steve Moser was not present the evening of the vote, but he has opposed the idea of the Living Wage in the past.
Please remember to vote tomorrow. |
