Recently uncovered documents disclosed the Township Supervisor and Trustees voted themselves a secret pay raise to be announced after the elections. This “bombshell,” revealed at the recent “Candidates Forum” hosted by the League of Women Voters, took most participants by surprise. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. After reviewing several thousand pages of Township documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, West Deerfield Township Independent Party investigators also found the current administration has increased the tax levy by 53% during their tenure, that salaries, benefits, stipends, consulting fees, and administrative overhead chew-up 89% of the budget, and that only 11% of your hard earned money actually goes to help the needy.

After using $1,800,000 of your money to build the extravagant Township Taj Mahal on Deerfield road, Morrison and Company quietly provided the lobbying group DBR (Deerfield, Bannockburn, Riverwoods Chamber of Commerce) with office space at rates which appear below the going market value to conduct their private business. It’s no wonder the Chamber and its members lavish such high praise for Morrison and her band of Trustees! Welcome to Stroger Politics on the North Shore!

Like Stroger’s operation in Cook County, the Township has turned into an Imperial Dynasty. In addition to the underhanded way they secretly raised their salaries, it also appears they laid the groundwork for adding health and pension benefits to their package at a later date. But if you think this is bad enough , consider the Administration's Imperial attitude: One Trustee refers to constituents as “the whinny people,” another uses his official title to promote his private agenda, and Township Clerk Boudreau condemns all who dare criticize their behavior.

Sneaky underhanded pay raises not to be announced until after the election, a trustee referring to constituents as “the whinny people,” irresponsible spending, providing supporters with low rent, using the Township to promote questionable agenda, deceiving the public with feel good newsletters, and the incumbent Clerk has the gall to condemn those who question their stewardship?

The current Township government is one of the biggest cans of worms ever seen outside of Stroger’s Cook County. And to think the investigators have only begun to unearth the severity of the mess. Consider this item: the current Township government gave the “Union Drainage District #1” a twenty-five year lease on 500 square feet of office space for the ridiculously low price of $500/month – including all utilities. At this point, about the only thing known about this organization is that Julie Morrison’s mentor and friend, the very man who apparently “greased the skids” to build Morrison’s Taj Mahal, is listed as a consultant who runs this innocuous body of government.

The Independent Party has publicly stated they would roll back the underhanded pay raises, review every item put in place by the incumbents to determine whether they were designed to help the needy or help themselves, and roll back frivolous items put in place to enhance their images. As Independent Party Clerk candidate Ted Sachs stated, “Township government was designed to address three things: maintain roads in unincorporated areas, assess property values, and provide emergency help for the needy. To use it to feather your own nest is simply wrong, wrong, wrong!”

Well, although the Independent Party had precious little time between its formation and the April 7, 2009 elections, they still won a crucial Trustee position and came very close in other races. It was a magnificent win in spite of the media, the DBR Chamber of Commerce, Democrats, Republicans, and other special interest groups backing the incumbents. Yes, in only 80 days 11 strangers came together, formed an independent party, obtained more than enough signatures to guarantee them a place on the ballot, introduced themselves to the public, and came away with a key position on the West Deerfield Township board.

Their campaign also sent a LOUD message to the incumbents: the electorate is VERY dissatisfied with their behavior!

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