League of Women Voters endorses 708 board referendum
The League of Women Voters of Naperville asks you to vote YES on 708 Mental Health Boards.
The referendum is a request to help our own community members and on an annual basis will generally cost less than a single dinner out for two.
The need is clear. The cost is low.
A 708 Mental Health Board supports services for people with mental illness, developmental disabilities or substance use disorders. Most families know someone, or have a family member, with a mental illness, development disability or substance use issues. Accessible mental health services can make recovery a reality.
How does a 708 Mental Health Board work? Once the referendum is passed, a volunteer board, made up of members of your own community, is appointed, a budget is prepared and approved. Grant applications are submitted and funds are distributed locally. Community needs are evaluated; funds are allocated strategically; services become better coordinated.
Vote yes to reduce or eliminate long waiting lists and gaps in services.
The League believes in access for all people to affordable, quality in- and out-patient behavioral health care, including mental health, substance use disorders and developmental disability services.
Susan Craighead
President, The League of Women Voters of Naperville
Potoczny makes case for electing him county treasurer
I am Don Potoczny, and I am running for the office of treasurer of DuPage County. I retired as an army colonel three years ago. I have been teaching at a public high school and I serve on several nonprofit boards.
I’d like to share three challenges facing the treasurer’s office and why I’m the right candidate to address them.
First, the computer system the county uses to manage our property taxes is 40 years old. The DuPage County Board has spent nearly $9 million on a new system, but getting it installed is now late and over budget. I am a certified project management professional, and I’ve led similar projects. I know how to lead this project to modernize the treasurer’s office.
Second, we need to rebuild trust in the treasurer’s office. This begins with professionalizing the staff. I’ve served as HR director for several large organizations. More important, I’ve built and led diverse teams that have addressed some of the toughest challenges in the world.
Lastly, local officials serve our community when they communicate complex issues in ways folks understand. For example, the treasurer needs to be able to explain the various property tax exemptions available, because no one should pay more than their share of taxes.
I’ve been an educator with a master’s degree in adult education. I can communicate with our seniors, veterans and the rest of our community.
I have expertise in every aspect of executive leadership. I can always be trusted to do the right thing. I’m the right candidate now and for our future.
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Don Potoczny, Naperville
Looking back makes one long for the good-old 1950s
It’s much too easy for us oldsters to think that the good old days are vastly superior to the tumultuous times we are now forced to endure.
But the simple fact is we did feel safer then, whether it’s because there were far fewer guns on the streets or law enforcement was held in a much higher regard.
When I grew up in Naperville, there was no keeping up with the Joneses, although dad was often the first in town to acquire the latest Chevy model. Mom stayed at home to keep the family functioning. Our greatest concerns as kids were limited to passing our next math test and not being overlooked when choosing sides for baseball.
Naive as it seems now, we never locked the front door. What’s more, we conversed with our next door neighbors and knew everyone’s name at the annual block party.
Religion was never discussed and yet the entire neighborhood attended Sunday services. Politics was also off-limits but town meetings were always well attended and no one was shy about speaking their mind.
The ’50s were unassuming but friendly and even nurturing to old-timers and newcomers alike. Is it any wonder that those of us on Social Security might assume things really were better in the good old days.
Bob Ory, Elgin
Boycott Musk businesses until he learns responsibility
May I suggest that until Elon Musk learns how to monitor responsible conversation on Twitter, everyone should boycott Tesla and any other endeavor he is involved in.
Obviously, he hasn’t learned that with great power, comes great responsibility.
Terry Cole, Naperville
Mental health boards will provide much-needed services
As a taxpayer, a mother, a mental health advocate, a bilingual teacher and a coffee lover, I jumped on the bandwagon immediately to support the referendum that would create mental health/708 boards in Naperville and Lisle townships.
A mental health/708 board would serve our community with wrap-around services and give our youth the much-needed mental health services that many of our young people with developmental disabilities and/or substance abuse disorders require.
The board may work in cooperation with DuPage County but also may have the ability to provide for greater outreach in our community.
As described in the Illinois General Assembly and Illinois Statutes Mental Health Act, a mental health board “…in consultation with and being advised by the Department of Human Services, shall have the power to contract repair, operate, maintain and regulate community mental health facilities to provide mental health services as defined by the local mental health board, including services for persons with a developmental disability or substance use disorder, for residents thereof and/or to contract therefore with any private or public entity which provides such services.” (405ILCS20-2)
Our taxpaying citizens may pay as little as a cup of coffee monthly to cover the costs for this mental health/708 board but our community would gain much-needed services for individuals with developmental disabilities and/or substance abuse disorders.
The pandemic negatively impacted our youth and as a result of the pandemic, individuals with developmental disabilities and/or substance abuse disorders may have an even greater need for mental health resources and support today.
I propose supporting the referendum and creating a mental health/708 board, which will give all people equal access to mental health care, today.
When I vote on Nov. 8, I will vote YES for a mental health/708 board in my township and I’ll take my cup of coffee to go.
Denise Cottle, Naperville
Sanguinetti pushes for change that’s already been made
Evelyn Sanguinetti is saying one big change she’d make to the DuPage County Clerk’s Office were she elected would be to place marriage license applications on the website.
Seems like a great idea until you glance at the home page of the clerk’s website. County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek placed marriage license applications online 2.5 years ago, shortly after COVID broke out — one of the many initiatives she fast-tracked to better serve the public during the pandemic.
This begs the embarrassing question: Why didn’t Sanguinetti do a little homework prior to making this the shining star of her platform? It also begs the question: If Sanguinetti didn’t both doing this basic research, why should we believe anything else she says?
In fairness, it’s easy to understand why Sanguinetti can’t keep up to speed. This is the third office she’s sought in less than four years.
It has taken us nearly four years to dig out of the mess Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti made of Illinois. During their term, the state lost billions and went through multiple credit downgrades when other states were thriving economically. We shouldn’t be surprised that once again she’s demonstrating that same reckless lack of depth, understanding and leadership necessary to hold public office.
Dianne McGuire, Naperville Sun
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