No matter how you feel about the results of this city election, there is a very sad element to it also. Reading through the Ottawa Times election results, I found the statement that county wide only 21% of the voters took the opportunity to choose who will govern them for the next 4 years. So most people do not care who votes at city hall at least in La Salle County and I would not be surprised if the turnout was even lower in LaSalle Peru.
Not sure that the absentee ballots have been counted as of this hour but that figure may also include those ballots.
Most of the residents in the First Ward did not vote for the obvious reason as there was no city contest.
It is Wednesday morning and I have deleted numerous posts that keep referring to those the blog supported. I want to tell and if you already knew remind you that his blog did not support anyone for personal reasons therefore do not waste your time and mine by referring to the candidates this blog supported.
What we did support is right versus wrong and brought to light the wrong when it was done and there was enough of that and but evidently many people have trouble reading or are very forgiving of those who do wrong in order to win an election. We support the right of people to express their opinion in our local news without threatened intimidation and it is evident that many in Peru who voted believe that is OK.
Only 2 out of every 10 voting residents bothered to go to the polls, evidently the remaining 8 do not believe in participating in the electoral process. Not hard to visualize that the winning votes once again came from , family, neighbors,and relatives of those currently in office, of appointed officials, employees, city contractors. Add friends to the group also.
If you voted Thank You.
35 comments:
Very sad to see some of the facebook posts by supporters of my three friends. Sour grapes. This is not who Rodney Chico and Travis are. Stop it people. The election is over so lets support the winners for a better Peru. The sour grape attitude of losing sides has gone on to long. I think the sour grapes from the last election cost my friends many votes. Please!
The Harl administration and all associated minions are rejoicing in the fact that the Peru electorate has once again demonstrated a complete disregard for their most sacred right. The Vote. Embarrassing voter turnout numbers and a total disregard and disinterest in being informed of the choices in candidates.
Peru voters passed on another opportunity to bring real vision for the future of the city. Instead, the miserable voter turnout and complete voter apathy in Peru did nothing more than enable and encourage this current morally and ethically corrupt administration to continue unabated on its current path of self-serving, mis-managed, incompetent, and inefficient government operations.
Please don't misunderstand this message. Here's how it all shakes down. I am not upset with those of you who actually voted, regardless of who you voted for. For those who voted for Waldorf, Payton, and Potthoff you knew exactly what you were voting for. You had no doubts about why you were at the polls yesterday. You voted for candidates that offer nothing more than a promise to "go along to get along". You like that in your aldermen. You vehemently oppose any candidate who "rocks the boat". You vote against candidates who promote honesty, integrity, and most of all you vote against candidates who demand accountability of themselves and their peers. You got what you voted for and what you voted against. Good for you. Congratulations are in order for the folks who came out yesterday to vote "for" something instead of "against" something. You voted for the principals and ideals of the best things that an elected official can do for the people they represent. The majority of the rest of you simply came out to vote "against" somebody. Harl and his Hand Maidens were laughing at you last night at the Status Quo Victory Ball. They have no respect for you and for once I completely agree with them.
The voter turn out was pathetic and worse than that the citizens attitude that they do not have to vote because the government will take care of them is increasing.
It is not that long ago that a group made a effort for a at large vote in Peru which was voted down. This effort if successful would have created a larger interest in Peru's voter turnout especially in the 1st ward.
Congratulations to Tom, Dave and Dave on your victories and the best in the next 4 years and a big thank you Rod Perez for 4 years well served. Presently the greatest concern is to develop a idea that will increase the number going to the voting booth. The quality of candidates and number of candidates is already there except for the 1st ward. It is the number of voters that is not.
Well, bring out the big mouths.
Just read the news tribune article with regards to this election and am personally shocked that a reporter would make some of the statements. i.e. "No Perez - period" "supporters spent weeks in heated social media battles and angry confrontations with elected officials". Where and when did these confrontations take place and who confronted whom? Did this reporter do some investigative reporting or is she just reporting hearsay?
The election and low voter turnout was everywhere. You must have the election cycles changed to get greater turnout. All local should and must be at the same time as state, federal elections.
Victory party at a local bar and acting like idiots. Let's act like big shots. Nothing and not much in Peru, but booze, gambling and being or trying to get in the club. Maybe some re organization of departments should happen. Some day the light is going to shine.
Had to laugh at the comment from Tom Payton saying he "has some ideas". Note to Tom, The boys will get that silly notion out of your head real soon. You are about to enter the "NO IDEA ZONE" Mr. Payton. You were elected to park your ass on the seat of a chair and keep your mouth shut until it's time to approve a no-bid contract or hire another assistant to an assistant or hire the new City "Administrator" at a six figure salary, Right Sappy?
Ideas?
Tom Payton will soon receive instruction on the proper behavior of a Peru alderman. Mr. Payton's spinal column will soon begin to disappear which will allow him to lazily fall in line with the other Rubber-Stampers who have befriended the newest bump on the Peru city council log of fame.
Ideas? Get real!
11:39 AM
Excellent post and so true. Can each individual city change this? I notice that cities in the area like Ottawa, Princeton and maybe Oglesby with commissioner forms of government elect all of them at the same time. This just completed election was a waste of money in some of the wards, namely the first. It possible all should be elected as you suggest.
Princeton elected new and Ottawa the same.
Something different needs to be done. Do people realize that within several blocks live 3 aldermen in Peru (both ward 2 alderman and a ward 1 alderman). Wasn't something like that one of the reasons people feared having aldermen-at-large (that there would be several representatives in one area)? There has been no opposition in ward 1 for the last 2 aldermanic elections. We know there are interested citizens out there however, they live in different wards. Maybe it's time to rethink our voting process and make changes for the betterment of Peru. Maybe it's time for aldermen-at-large or a commission form of government. Change is good and maybe term limits need to be enforced. New faces, new thoughts, new ideas would be a welcome addition to our town.
1:28 That is quite a reach. Your alderman do not live within a few blocks. It is within a few miles. The last referendum went down, why try another? Put your name on the ballot and give it a try. There are no easy ways to get elected.
Term limits in small towns are counter productive and that takes away the elected process. If you are tired of your elected official get rid of them.
It is very difficult getting people to stand up and be involved with city government. The reason is that anyone that has a desire to contribute is shut out if they propose anything other than the "party line." Many intelligent people have tried to get involved only to be turned away. I can name them here but I don't think they would like that.
The point is - why would somebody want a job that is essentially a rubber stamp for the administration? People like to contribute - it is impossible to do so in Peru.
And everyones complaint that there was low voter turnout. I believe the Payton/Perez race had around 1400-1500 registered voters in that ward of which 647 of them voted which is around 43%. Not bad for a midterm election with nothing on the ballot! on
A lot of alderman and city officials cars left at the spice overnite. Pretty responsible but stupid at the same time . city officials getting drunk and stupid makes them look like fools !
4:16 That might not be a bad turn out in comparison to the other wards, but still 6 out of 10, didn't care.
I heard sapi was on a rampage Monday...why do alderman feel they can be loud and rude to voters! One day someone will catch it on video and 10k people will get the laugh of their life
There was no purpose in voting no one in my ward worthy of a vote. I fear for the city if things continue the way they have been with the current administration and their lack of respect/judgement or concern for the people of this city there is no hope to get it back to what it was 10 years ago
I don't get it?
Anon 12:48PM
often times it has been discussed why city officials do not participate in the blog. Everyone who reads your negative comments and smart remarks will now have a understanding and reason why.
Anyone of intelligence will give a another person a opportunity to prove themselves before making accusations as you have. Being that Tom Payton won the election 5 hours before your post and is several days before being sworn in as a alderman I'd say you are not only hasty but also rude and your comment is meaningless.
The balance of my comment I'll leave to Alderman Tom Payton and the next four years to answer how incorrect you are!
It has been a main subject of many conversations the last 2 days that
"samurai sapi" was in a full state of mental confusion Monday evening. Sadly in overestimation of his own mental capacity he decided to express himself to one of superior intelligence. Understandably, although younger, this person elocution proved the 3rd ward alderman inferior when having to attempt to think on his feet rather than reading a prepared text.
Thankfully "samurai sapi" is a example of only a few alderman who feel they can be loud and rude to voters in public. The mentality of someone who displays anger in a public environment does so because they think others will protect them from their just rewards.
Much credit has to be given the young man who Sapi vocally attacked for his excellent handling of the situation and the Alderman. Those who witnessed the Alderman's temper are suggesting a course in anger management.
Does anyone know where the $1600 Christmas Tree Sappi bought for city hall display is? That was a wonderful display of economic intelligence.
I also have witnessed this anger you speak of and as a result do not converse with either Alderman Sapienza or Waldorf as they have a tendency to "fly off the handle".
Thank you for alerting me to the error.
I guess we all think it's ok to trash and name call those we elect and a number of them have been called names in both social media and at meetings. But, if any of the elect question or call back those making the statements or calling the names, its a problem! Most of those you elect are human and have pride in the city. They react like anybody else that is under attack. If they don't react you call them out for not giving you a voice.
To 3;45 April 8th
I am 1:28 and yes there are 3 aldermen who live within blocks of each other (2 from ward 2 and l from ward 1). I was just comparing the proximity of these aldermen because people who opposed the idea of aldermen-at-large felt that something like this might occur and that they would lose representation.
Can anyone explain what happened and where it happened with regards to the incident involving alderman Sapienza and a citizen? Was it after the council meeting and why was there a confrontation?
11:37 your new strategy is to misinform those reading the blog that Alderman Sapienza spoke to a young man at a meeting. This in fact did not happen and many of us have known Mike for a long time. He is a gentleman and above the nonsense of those trying to tarnish his character. You may have attempted to tarnish those who recently won elections and found that to be ineffective. The results were far from close. Build up the public service record of those you attend to run and then come out with a positive run for office. Don't waste your time with a two year rant about some alderman yawning at a meeting.
10:53 I am 11:37 Please do not misstate my facts till they fit your fancy. Nowhere do I mention that this confrontation was at a meeting. This in fact did happen at a private business and Sappi was hardly a gentleman nor a role model of a alderman. The only nonsense he was above was his own mismanaged temper.
The city of peru will be a steaming pile of something in 2-3 years as our debt increases...hydro plant is crap and we owe well owe 11 million on it
You can say whatever you want but we are headed down wrong direction
The us against them mentality is for people like Bartley and Harl and Bernabei that are afraid of change. When you look back on this particular post it will be "I told you so".
I in shock today! The Times is going door to door in Peru today to get homeowners to sign up to there paper. NewsTribe may loose customers for being bias, one sided and not having qualified news reporters. My suggestion to the Tribe is go back to investigative reporting and tell the whole truth in your articles.
7:43 PM
The recent election proved their bias and the reporter who did the stories needsto have someone read before she submits. Some of it in my opinion was biased and insulting to those who did not win. Fair and balanced no but on the same page as those currently in office , yes.
Have not subscribed to the N.T. for over a year now. No regrets.
Anon 7:43 - 8:53 PM
Why is it always the losers claim the media to be biased and insulting when losing a election.
Normally the winner is the person who has sold himself and his ideas to the public best through hard work and personal contact. The idea that the 21st century calls for updated communications rather than personal knocking on doors and shaking hands for votes in a small town election has proven to be B.S.
We should make Aldermen wear body cameras whenever they are out and about in public.
2:33 PM, You are on to something there. I suggest all Peru elected and appointed officials be fitted with Shock-Collars before each council meeting and the gallery be allowed to deliver a jolt to each of them when they are rubber stamping a vote or approving a phony political issue. Now that's the kind of public involvement we need in Peru government. BTW, the city needs to order a custom sized hard-hat for Harl if he is going to have his giant cranium in the newspaper. That picture of the groundbreaking looked like Harl was wearing one of those tiny miniature birthday party hats. Maybe just a five-gallon bucket on his skull if it fits?
Anon 7:21 Very constructive criticism Ickabob.
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