More Top Picks Best Desk Mats
player ready...Two opponents of upcoming referendums say they were denied a chance to present their views at a New Lenox Chamber of Commerce candidates forum Tuesday.
Wayne Doede, who organized the event, said Patrick Flynn and Karl Maurer were welcome to attend the forum and question the speakers.
But a request for equal time to rebut backers of the two referendum questions was turned down, Doede said.
“Unless someone is a candidate or they have a referendum to present, they are not on the program,” he said.
The program is designed as a forum, not a debate, Doede said.
Flynn and Maurer said that submitting questions, which would have been screened, would not have given them enough time to present their case.
Flynn’s target is the New Lenox Township referendum question that asks voters to approve a $2.3 million revenue bond to finance construction of a 24-unit senior-citizen residence
The bond debt would be repaid from rental income.
Flynn said he believes the construction costs are too high and that he is opposed to welfare projects.
Maurer said that he opposes New Lenox Elementary School District 122’s request for a $16.3 million bond issue to finance a new junior high school, more kindergarten classrooms and security enhancements, plus an increase in the education fund tax rate.
He said he believes that school officials’ have overestimated their financial need.
Maurer said he is forming a group to lobby against the school referendum.