Comments on: Candidates forum Thursday

By: WaWaWaWaitaMinute

WaWaWaWaitaMinute — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:55:23 +0000

We are way past fence straddling now, you’re right.

I, too, briefly met John Prigge a few years back at the Elgin Image Awards night when he won for his radio show, a show I still miss. I later had a half hour conversation with him at the State Street Market last year. I can tell you this, he is open and has passion in his voice about Elgin. And, I like that he is an independant business man like I was. He knew when we chatted Elgin was slipping and he turned out to be correct.

I do not agree with his positions on some things like a new concert hall. But, I don’t know of another candidate who knows what is troubling Elgin and how to fix it. I like the fact he’s been in Elgin for so long.

By: Boxcar

Boxcar — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:51:11 +0000

In the meantime, brewing off on the sidelines, sit 10 candidates for the four-year spots. Seven of whom are waiting to square off against the REAL problem in Elgin, the incumbents.

Sligting is taking heat for a DUI. How bad do you think the challengers are going to chew up THREE incumbents who have thrown us under the bus for AT LEAST the last 4 years? Now, add in the citizens, (victims) and you could see some sparks fly at their forums.

Based on what I’ve seen and heard, the candidate to watch is John Prigge. If he speaks anything like he writes on his website we’re going to be in for some very interesting debates. He obviously loves Elgin and his website has more information on it than 3 or 4 of the others combined. I wish the other candidates would be so open. It seems like many of them are straddling the fence. NOW is not the time for fence straddling.

By: shininglite

shininglite — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:10:58 +0000

How about any other candidate supporters? WHy Morales? Get off of it…your looking at the wrong candidate..LOL!

By: John

John — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:55:49 +0000

This is the ECN board:

Sigi Psimenos
Jeanine Seitz-Partridge
John Rothenberger
Jessica Thompson
Betsy Couture
Charlene Sligting
Mark Billings
Patricia Segel
Kyla Jacobsen
William Werst
Carl Missele
David Kaptain

Let’s use process of elimination to figure out who is spreading false rumors. We know Thompson and Sligting are supporting Sligting. That leaves

Sigi Psimenos
Jeanine Seitz-Partridge
John Rothenberger
Betsy Couture
Mark Billings
Patricia Segel
Kyla Jacobsen
William Werst
Carl Missele
David Kaptain

We know that rumors are spread by women, so that leaves:

Sigi Psimenos
Jeanine Seitz-Partridge
Betsy Couture
Patricia Segel
Kyla Jacobsen

Which of these could it be? Are there any Morales supporters in that group?

By: Jessica T.

Jessica T. — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:46:07 +0000

I was at the Elgin Community Network board meeting last night. Charlene was there.

I don’t know anyone who was “shocked.” Charlene attends regularly. I’ve been a member since last summer–she makes most meetings and is an active participant in them, and I’ve never seen her show up for “only a few minutes.” Aside from attend the meetings I know she has also been involved in ECN-related volunteer work outside of the board.

She missed the last ECN meeting because of her campaign, which is why this time she skipped the forum for the meeting. She was being a good board member.

Shame on your friend. If an ECN board member is going around gossiping about other members and sharing meeting information (or misinformation) for political purposes, that is unethical and reflects very, very poorly on the board as a whole.

Boards are supposed to present a unified front, and your friend–regardless of if he/she supports Charlene or not–did ECN an incredible disservice by discussing issues with you in the way you describe. I am disappointed.

By: SB

SB — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:20:50 +0000

The most of the ladies were on point last night. They seem to be bright intelligent candidates, yet the one that stood out to me was 2 year candidate Emi. She is young, and seems to know what she wants, and where she is headed. My point of view, is that, “The Women Rock in 2009, local government (ran by mostly men) is so corrupt, they can’t think pass “what’s in it for me.” when the schools are suffering, the communities are war zones, our children are dying, and all they can think about is how can I use this opportunity to get ahead. Women don’t think about how can I get this done, they just do it. This campaign year is for women. Vote for The Women Rock Campaign.

By: starshine

starshine — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:31:16 +0000

RS I would agree with you, I too was impressed by Ana and Carol. Al had a good night too. But in my conversations with him it seems that he doesn’t really have Elgin’s pulse. I mention some of EPD finest-he has not heard of them. He knows a lot about Hoffman Est. I’d like to see him with the same knowledge of Elgin. Mike W and Emi also did quite well. I was told by my friend that Charlene was at the Elgin Neighborhood Connection (whatever the group is called) meeting last night and stayed for the entire time, which shock the H_ll out of the attendees because she never attends, and when she does it’s only for a few minutes. I thought she might have caught this gosh awful flu. She decided to blow off Unity in the Community Coalition Which represent 30 different Elgin Community base organizationsÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢.

By: RS

RS — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:58:22 +0000

Here’s a panorama photo of the panel at the Unity in the Community-sponsored candidates forum that was held tonight at the downtown recreation center:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elgin/3275931782/sizes/l/

Unfortunately, Flickr apparently has a limit on the size of files, but you get the idea.

The only city council candidate who did not attend was Charlene Sligting.

I wasn’t aware that this was also an event for Democratic candidates for Elgin Township Trustee, and all of them were there.

I didn’t stay for the Q&A because I had to get to dinner, but it was a good, well-attended event. Either that or they chose a room of the perfect size :)

Among the Democratic Elgin Township Trustee candidates, I was impressed by Ana Ortiz and Carol Rauschenberger.

Among the city council candidates, I thought Al Fernandez stood out as someone who could be a good councilman. I’d like to learn more about him.