“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Wednesday, December 05, 2012


31 comments:

Peru Town Forum said...

The Democratic caucus lasted about 15 minutes at Peru City Hall and candidates were selected whereas the Republican caucus lasted for hours at 2123 Fourth Street in a building owned by Bob Vickery, current twp. clerk, with at least 4 votes taken and controversy and uncertainty still remain. From what I have heard there are doubts that everything was handled properly. Crowding close to one hundred people into a very small building certainly presented a safety problem and the fire dept. should make the Republican caucus aware that this should never happen again. Are there rules that the parties must abide by when voting in a caucus situation, such as adequate room, seating, safe conditions?

Anonymous said...

Finally! Citizens of Peru read about the corrupt TWP Board in a Trib article and average citizens stood up and ran for office to make change. This is awesome! Every current TWP member should be voted out and replaced.
Is it to late for an article to be printed in the Trib about the backroom deals that must be taking place in all of the closed sessions the City of Peru has about every week.Lets review their minutes when/if ever released and see how they did business.
Maybe a news story would wake people up and run for office to replace some of those small minds.
I hold a position that wouldn't allow me to run or I'd be cleaning house!

Anonymous said...

Was that the meeting on 4th st last night? Drove past around 7ish and saw a huge crowd. I don't know how the floor held up to be honest with you.

Anonymous said...

Earlier this year, a group of Peru Township residents and the News Tribune shared research to publish investigative stories that showed Peru Township elected officials were among the highest paid in the state. The township spent more on retirement benefits for 1 employee than it did on state-mandated charity care. Plus, most of the tax dollars paid by citizens for roads were used for salaries and benefits.
The above paragraph has been copied word for word from the Wednesday, 12/5/12 blog comment and the article titled Peru Township elected positions to be contested in April written by Kevin Caufied, Staff Writer.
I, as many others, are pleased to see that both the News Tribune and the Peru Town Forum are actively leading the distribution of knowledge of Peru Township Board (offices) both incumbents and candidates. To each, Kevin and Lois, a BIG Thank You and letting you know that a lot of us are depending on both of you for your expert comments in the upcoming months about the local political scene. Your insight and folow-up will enable many to cast a educated vote. Again Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I heartily agree with Dec 5 2:05 PM about voting out incumbents but then we will have new members that will be receiving the same pay!!! Has anyone talked about their voting to reduce their own pay and more importantly reducing the retirement options. It has to start somewhere and there is no time like the present. We need to find out what these new people feel and think and are more importantly, ready to step forward to address this inequity.

Anonymous said...

Get rid of Hocking! Big problem with Steve running, he's as big of a UNION pusher as Harl! No matter what the outcome, Peru twp. is still a big joke and ripoff. In fact it may just get worse.

Anonymous said...

I live on 6th st in Peru, Nelson and Mitchell asked me to sign their petition after what I heard I signed it i never voted for an independent before but I will be in April! I wrote their positions down and am glad they have a plan to cut salaries, eliminate the retirement benefits and cut the $250 monthly medical stipend that the officers receive. While also eliminating the wasteful spending by road commissioner I look forward to hearing more from them. I could careless if your republican or democrat we need conservative reform in here

Anonymous said...

The need to abolish the township has not changed no matter who is running. There is no need for the Peru positions at all. If voters want a township function, the Lasalle twp could merge or cover Peru at 10% of the cost to Peru and distribute the Tax funds to the needy and take care of the roads easily enough.

Anonymous said...

you cant CANT CANT cut that stuff once it is in place!!

Anonymous said...

7:07 Yes you can and it is happening in THIS state. The people can and will abolish these outdated and unnecessary organizations. Granted, some townships seem to be effectively doing things , but the Peru one is one that should be exposed in the Chicago papers, not just the News Trib.

Why can't cant can't you cut the whole thing? The vast majority of it's budget is expense, without performing any necessary FUNCTION.

Anonymous said...

Somewhere taxes must be reduced and the elimination of a unnecessary government body would be the place to start. The few miles of road the township maintains should be transferred to other sources and the township is the last in the chain to help the needy and therefore never approached. What would the taxes be reduced by if the township was eliminated?
This is not about being a good guy or a bad guy but instead about not performing any necessary function.

Anonymous said...

6:07 p.m. And what's also funny about Steve running is I hear he is also running for 4th ward alderman as well! How do you think that will play out? I think Alderman Potthoff will rally his supporters to vote for Lukosus while Justin and Steve will wind up sharing votes. This is one big joke.

Anonymous said...

So, was Bobby V ousted by the party for his "less than Republican" service on the County Board or did he just decide that the kitchen was to hot? My prediction, Peru Township will continue to churn out the pay checks. They will just have different names on them.

Anonymous said...

change the township and mayor

Anonymous said...

Lois, the time to fracture the chance to get control of the township board isn't now. We need to rally the voters to elect all the new canadiates if we do they can cut our taxes and cut the spending, then we can dissolve the road department and that will allow about 70% cut in township tax. Raising the hope of the entire township being done away with now is only helping the incumbents and focus on making the changes now for responsible and transparent township. We need conservative reformers and that is not hocking or Ozzy! Don't forget Bernabi asked for an increase in his retirement contribution for being a trustee. They all must go!!!

Anonymous said...

The standard bearer of the next twp. bd. membership should be judged by their willingness to take a substantial pay cut. Before election all candidates should submit the pay scale which they believe is justifiable. There is no reward to the taxpayer to vote out the present incumbernts and continue on with a twp. bd. if the newly elected only carry on as the present have shown a history of.
The proper method would be to improve not destroy. With the present pay scale and lack of a equivalent work load could a positive solution be a referrendum petitioning for a combination of townships to identify if there could be a need of this segment of government representation. If there is no need elimination should be called for in the next statewide election and the township boards responsibilities would have to ber turned over to another body such as the city. Peru should be able to handle a couple of more blocks of roads which is sensibly theres anyhow.

Anonymous said...

What are the guidelines for a establishment of a township? For instance:
TOWNSHIPS BY COUNTY

LaSalle County - 36 Townships

Cook County - 30 Townships

Will County - 23 Townships

Rock Island - 18 Townships

McClean - 8 Townships

Somewhere there must be a explanation of why the number of townships by county appears to be so far out of balance, and someone should have the responsibility to explain and justify the above.
This appears to be another county board in which LaSalle County has a larger membership than Los Angles County and has chosen to stay as is rather than recognize the citizens vote.

Anonymous said...

townships are laid out in 36 square mile tracts. for some reason, probably going back to the 1830's Peru and LaSalle Townships are about half that. LaSalle County has so many because it is one of the largest - landwise that is.
Don't know why Peru and LaSalle Townships are so small - but I think it has to do with the fact that the people that settled in Peru wanted nothing to do with LaSalle - something about LaSalle taking all the canal business and some bad debt issued in Peru's name and taken by LaSalle.

Anonymous said...

Attn: 4:51 AM,
You make an interesting "guess" based on well, nothing in particular.
Here's another scenario which I think is much more likely.
Dave Potthoff will support and actually speak highly of Mr. Weberski. Steve Weberski will likely run a well organized campaign with broad support throughout the entire city as well as the 4th Ward.
Then, after all the votes are tallied it becomes apparent that Mr. Lukosus and Mr. Loger have in fact "split" the remaining vote with the official tally breakdown being something like this: Weberski 54%, Loger 24%, and Lukosus 22%.
Give or take a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.
What do you think of that?

Anonymous said...

Getting a non binding referendum going would be a good place to start. By educating the electorate about the waste and hopefully getting a massive vote in favor of abolishing the township in its CURRENT form, the groundwork would be laid for new blood, and their mandate would be to reform. Moving the road work would be a great first step, then focusing on the assistance of the poor could be prioritized.
Should things not change, the process of petitioning the legislature could proceed, and the current court cases could be watched to see individual municipality results.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget Steve Weberski was REVEREND GODFATHER HARL'S Campaign manager!

Anonymous said...

I'd like to know why so many candidates are running as independents this year. Has it been virtually impossible to unseat an incumbent in the past if you ran as a party representative? If so why?

Anonymous said...

12:00 I don't see why Potthoff would support the person who was running against him two years ago...

Anonymous said...

5:50 PM, Then you obviously don't understand "politics".

Anonymous said...

Dave would support Steve W. because he is the most qualified of the three candidates running for fourth ward alderman in this election.

Anonymous said...

11:51. Surely you meant to put lol after your comment, yes? Not saying Steve isn't the most qualified, just saying Potthoff would never support him.

Anonymous said...

And what exactly "qualifies" you to be an alderman?

Anonymous said...

What qualifies anyone to be a council member in their ward is the desire to do what the majority of your constituents want! Not what the mayor wants or what your personal interests want you to do.

Anonymous said...

Well someone should inform those aldermen what the qualifications are for the job, because they are certainly lacking in the what the majority of your constituents want.

Anonymous said...

I was just referring as to what made Mr. Weberski more "qualified" than Mr. Lukosus or Mr. Loger

Anonymous said...

Mr. Weberski will take the office off and running with his wheels already on the ground. You will find him knowlegable in the areas the city spends big money on and capable to do something about.
Justin,a young person, is very interested in Peru and a much needed representative of the younger segment and what they desire . As for the present alderman I can't comment because he has not done anything that is publicly known in his two years of office.