There is a bill being considered in Springfield (HB4717) which would require the DuPage County Board to affirmatively approve the extra quarter-cent sales tax increase for "public safety."
If the bill is approved, and the County Board votes against the increase, then the sales tax increase effective April 1 would only be a quarter-cent in DuPage County, not a half-percent.
UPDATE: The bill has been pulled and won't be considered. Click here for a newspaper article.
Why won't our DuPage County elected officials step up and stop this tax increase?
/s/ Robert "Bob" Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board - District 3
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The same old political rhetoric...
The allegations made by Manzo in the second paragraph of her February 16, 2008 letter to the editor (“DuPage frustrated with GOP leadership”) are almost too ridiculous to warrant a response. In fact, I thought she was talking about Schillerstrom and his DuPage County Board when mentioning taxes going through the roof, government jobs and contracts going to patronage hacks, and ignoring corruption and waste.
Manzo needs to do her homework about DuPage Democrats before making such wild generalizations. I have proposed reducing the size of county government and cutting spending; I have been on the record as against the sales tax increase from the beginning and it turns out the threat of losing public safety jobs was a “bait and switch” followed by “tax and spend;” I am adamantly opposed to home rule for DuPage County; I will soon propose an ethics reform package to eliminate “pay to play” politics from county government.
Republicans like Manzo can keep repeating the same old political rhetoric in the hope that it distracts voters from the failed leadership of Schillerstrom and the 100% Republican County Board. But they can’t fool voters forever. And their time is up.
Robert “Bob” Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board – District 3
Manzo needs to do her homework about DuPage Democrats before making such wild generalizations. I have proposed reducing the size of county government and cutting spending; I have been on the record as against the sales tax increase from the beginning and it turns out the threat of losing public safety jobs was a “bait and switch” followed by “tax and spend;” I am adamantly opposed to home rule for DuPage County; I will soon propose an ethics reform package to eliminate “pay to play” politics from county government.
Republicans like Manzo can keep repeating the same old political rhetoric in the hope that it distracts voters from the failed leadership of Schillerstrom and the 100% Republican County Board. But they can’t fool voters forever. And their time is up.
Robert “Bob” Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board – District 3
Thursday, February 7, 2008
DuPage voter turnout since 1980
DuPage voter turnout since 1980
| Year | Turnout | Ballot | GOP | Dems |
| 1980 | 46% | 126,981 | 101,681 | 25,164 |
| 1984 | 37% | 121,476 | 75,612 | 43,514 |
| 1988 | 44% | 141,029 | 92,893 | 46,157 |
| 1992 | 50% | 178,255 | 111,030 | 63,288 |
| 1996 | 38% | 145,830 | 114,894 | 26,417 |
| 2000 | 27% | 129,570 | 96,863 | 27,576 |
| 2004 | 25% | 150,642 | 86,836 | 63,806 |
| 2008* | 44% | 242,917 | 109,132 | 132,434 |
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
February 5, 2008 primary election results
February 5, 2008 primary election results:
DuPage County Board Member - District 3
DuPage County Board Member - District 3
Democrat - 22,778 ballots = 23.9% voter turnout
(vote for one)
Robert "Bob" Brandt - 16,887 votes
Republican - 18,679 ballots = 19.6% voter turnout
(vote for two)
Michael F. McMahon - 10,460 votes
John Curran - 10,363 votes
Thomas F. Bennington Jr - 7,609
DuPage County:
Democratic ballots - 131,635
Republican ballots - 108,582
Now on to the general election on November 4, 2008.
/s/ Robert "Bob" Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board - District 3
Monday, February 4, 2008
Money in District 3
The money in politics today is mind-boggling. The Presidential candidates have raised a total of $582 million so far and they may end up raising $1 billion by November. But what about local races?
In DuPage County District 3, incumbent Forest Preserve Commissioner Wally Brown has raised $10,000 to date and has loaned himself a staggering $185,000 since 2002.
Challenger Linda Painter has raised $5,000 and loaned herself $20,000.
County Board incumbent Tom Bennington has raised $37,850 (this includes $12,500 given to him by County Board Chairman Schillerstrom) and loaned himself $20,000.
County Board Incumbent Michael McMahon has raised $88,250 (this includes $12,500 given to him by County Board Chairman Schillerstrom) and received a loan from a family business for $12,000.
County Board Challenger John Curran has raised $33,500.
/s/ Robert "Bob" Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board - District 3
In DuPage County District 3, incumbent Forest Preserve Commissioner Wally Brown has raised $10,000 to date and has loaned himself a staggering $185,000 since 2002.
Challenger Linda Painter has raised $5,000 and loaned herself $20,000.
County Board incumbent Tom Bennington has raised $37,850 (this includes $12,500 given to him by County Board Chairman Schillerstrom) and loaned himself $20,000.
County Board Incumbent Michael McMahon has raised $88,250 (this includes $12,500 given to him by County Board Chairman Schillerstrom) and received a loan from a family business for $12,000.
County Board Challenger John Curran has raised $33,500.
/s/ Robert "Bob" Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board - District 3
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Illinois State Rifle Association endorses Bennington, McMahon
The Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has endorsed two candidates for DuPage County Board - Tom Bennington and Michael McMahon. Click here for the Press Release.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Birkett comes to McMahon's defense
When incumbent DuPage County Board Member Michael McMahon (District 3) was not endorsed by the Hinsdale Doings, DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett came to his defense. See Birkett's Letter to the Editor.
And why did Birkett do that?
Perhaps its because McMahon's relatives have loaned Birkett's campaign fund $600,000 since 2002. McMahon's relatives have also donated over $78,000 outright to Birkett; McMahon's law firm has donated $16,750 to Birkett; and McMahon has personally donated $2,800 to Birkett. Click here for more information.
The candidate endorsed by the Doings is a Cook County Prosecutor.
Money talks.
/s/ Robert "Bob" Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board - District 3
And why did Birkett do that?
Perhaps its because McMahon's relatives have loaned Birkett's campaign fund $600,000 since 2002. McMahon's relatives have also donated over $78,000 outright to Birkett; McMahon's law firm has donated $16,750 to Birkett; and McMahon has personally donated $2,800 to Birkett. Click here for more information.
The candidate endorsed by the Doings is a Cook County Prosecutor.
Money talks.
/s/ Robert "Bob" Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board - District 3
Bob Schillerstrom = Boss Hogg?
I found this posted by John Ruskin.
The newspaper article is posted here.
/s/ Robert "Bob" Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board - District 3
The newspaper article is posted here. /s/ Robert "Bob" Brandt
Candidate for DuPage County Board - District 3
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