The next time someone gives you a campaign contribution, take the money and spend it down at Jerry's IGA on groceries. After all, if you don't eat well, you can't very well be a good candidate, can you? And be sure to tell the contributor that's where his/her money went. Not on your campaign, but for a package of Twinkies and a Ding-Dong or two.
Think that generous contributor (if it's not your mother) is going to donate anything else to your campaign? Ever?
Then think about just how deep you stuck your foot down your throat at Tuesday night's council meeting.
In case you missed it, today's News-Gazette reports that Pirok (and fellow co-conspirator Kathy Ennan) told Champaign Library Board President Rustry Freeland that the board darned well better be raising more than the $3 million in private contributions it promised to raise to help finance the new library. And the extra money should NOT go to the library but to pay off the city's bond debt.
Pirok said he thought the library foundation "can and should be able to raise more than $3 million," and that any extra money raised should be split in some fashion between the library and the city, with the city portion going to reduce bonded debt.
Needless to say, that didn't go over too well with Freeland, who suggested that with that kind of incentive, there's no way they could raise more than $3 million.
Imagine his pitch: "Thanks for the $50,000 to help build the library, sir. That puts us just $20,000 over the top of our goal, so we'll be sending the remainder down to City Hall. Surely you don't mind...'' How quick will that check be pulled back?
Money given to the library should GO to the library. Maybe Ken and Kathy can raise money by using a bait-and-switch tactic, but don't demand others do it.
And by the way, Ken, did you notice the little slam from your fellow council members last night?
Two council members, Tom Bruno and Michael La Due, defended Freeland.
"How successful do you think fundraisers for the University of Illinois library would be if potential funders were told one-half would go to Springfield?" La Due asked.
Some questions don't need answers. Have another Twinkie, Ken.
And so it goes.
1 comment:
The next time you chose to insult an elected official, maybe you should get your facts straight. The city bond debt IS the library building debt.
This is why blogs are such a cowardly method of communication. You can be both anonymous and factually incorrect.
Post a Comment