Message to the Village - 2 - March 30, 2001 - Government - http://diamondmachine.com/norridge2001a/message2

RE: ELECTION DAY, APRIL 3, 2001

March 30, 2001

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

In a few short days you will be going to the polls to vote and you will have many serious choices to make. Local elections are the most important elections to your every day life. Local elected officials determine what programs will be provided, which streets will be repaired, etc.

Recent polling indicates that the race for Norridge Village President (Mayor) will be a very close election and may be decided by a handful of votes. As we all witnessed in last year's national Presidential election, EVERY VOTE COUNTS. With my candidacy leading by only two percentage points (+/- 3%), this will prove to be even more true in our upcoming local elections.

Earl Field and his Norridge Improvement Party has stated that Tom Sticha and I don't have any issues and are more interested in "slinging mud". Thomas Jefferson once wrote: "Information is the currency of democracy." If Earl and his party feel that divulging their secrets is mud slinging, then so be it. There are many issues in this campaign; none more important than the next. It is my desire to bring integrity and honesty back to the office of Village President. Our current administration is a "private club" of insiders and they're not taking any new members. Tom Sticha and I will eliminate the current attitudes of "we can do whatever we want" and "it's who you know" that is prevalent in our local government. Government should represent and work for ALL of the people - not just the privileged few.

Tom Sticha and I would like to build a new library. This can be accomplished without placing the burden on home owners or raising local tax monies. Last year, the Village of Elmwood Park received grants totaling over 5.7 million dollars for their new library. Where was Mr. Field and our Village Board?

In this same vein, Tom and I want to take special interest monies out of local politics. We want these special interests to show that they are actually concerned with our community instead of just buying politicians like groceries. Tom and I will create the Norridge Foundation - a not-for-profit organization that will apply contributions to the direct benefit of residents.

As you may have seen on the ABC 7 broadcast of 6:00 PM on Thursday evening, Earl and his Norridge Improvement Party have been accepting illegal campaign contributions since 1984. These contributions have totaled more than $17,000. Coincidentally, Earl was either Chairman and/or Treasurer of the Party while these contributions were accepted. We've trusted him and his party for over sixteen years; can we afford to trust them for four more? We think it's time to tell them the "party's over".

Over the course of this campaign, Tom and I have brought new ideas and have addressed serious issues such as the creation of a Teen and Senior Advisory Council, residential soundproofing, and a plan to make the trustees more accountable and accessible to the community. Our opponents do not offer any new ideas but only promise to continue free 911 service and a continuation of low taxes. This, of course, will happen regardless of who is elected.

On April 3, 2001 you will finally have choices; make your choices based on the issues. We, as a community, can vote to move forward by electing myself and Tom Sticha.

Sincerely yours,

Mark R. Axen,
Independent Candidate for Village President

Tom Sticha,
Independent Candidate for Village Trustee

Copyright 2001 Friends of Mark R. Axen
Paid for by Friends of Mark R. Axen.
A copy of our report filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections and

the Cook County Clerk's Office is available for purchase from the
State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL

and/or the County Clerk, 69 W. Washington, Chicago, IL

Call us toll-free: 1-877-560-2499

info@norridge2001.org

Visitors: 00421

Page Updated Mon Apr 2, 2001 12:30am EDT