Naperville Forward PAC ads designed to mislead
I recently spoke before Naperville City Council concerning a campaign ad published by Naperville Forward PAC that states some candidates in our local election will advance a fanatical agenda and implies they will remove “scores of classics” from school and library shelves.
I believe it bears repeating that the ad is false, inflammatory and designed to mislead voters. As a longtime resident, attorney, parent and community leader (I’ve served on the boards of three local nonprofits and currently serve on a city of Naperville board), I can assure you I do not intend to pursue a fanatical agenda and have no desire to remove classics from library shelves.
What’s more, this PAC recently distributed a second ad implying that candidates not listed do not want to keep assault weapons out of classrooms. As far as I know, I am the only school board candidate who has spoken out in forums and interviews about the importance of school safety and have pledged to do all I can as a board member to support District 203’s director of safety and security and our school resource officers.
Voters need to look beyond the inflammatory rhetoric in these partisan mailers and support qualified candidates who are invested in the local community and serious about running the day-to-day business of the city, school and park districts.
Ronald Amato, Naperville
Candidate, Naperville District 203 School Board
Vote based on character and goals, not innuendo and fear
We came to Naperville to find the best schools, a good community and a sustainable style of living. We want political discussion built on consensus and goodwill, not like that being seen in Chicago or Florida, which is driven by innuendo, misinformation, anger or fear.
Let’s continue to choose our city officials based on their character, ability and goals. Please vote Tuesday.
Roger Iliff, Naperville
Officials offer poor excuses for fitness center closing
In her March 26 Naperville Sun column, Hilary Decent interviewed Joe Dant, president of South Region NorthShore-Edward-Elmhurst Health, who told her the health care portion of the business has been supporting the Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness Center in Naperville, which has been running at a loss.
He’s quoted as saying the center is closing, in part, because “we need our resources for our mission in healing.”
These sentences really tell it all. I understand some of their dilemma, but isn’t healing part of what happens at the fitness center? I feel that supporting a fitness center is not a bad thing.
I wonder if they could look into their big advertising budget and use that for supporting and growing the fitness center. I wonder how much of this is due to the consolidation of the three large systems, which is very common these days.
I have been a member of the Waves swim team for several years, which uses the fitness center, but I have seen so much more that happens there.
Susan Swedler, Naperville
How about giving members a perk to switch centers?
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I’m addressing the NorthShore/Elmhurst-Edward closing of the Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness Center in Naperville. I have enjoyed and benefited from five mornings weekly in the Warm Water Therapy classes there.
I spoke, along with others, about the closure at Naperville City Council meeting and protested with many in frigid temperatures a week ago.
The elderly and disabled are either mid-day or full-time members of the fitness center. In the past, we were able to utilize two different facilities but this is cut in half with the Naperville facility’s closure.
Do you seriously want our memberships to transfer to Edward-Elmhurst’s Seven Bridges fitness center in Woodridge?
There will be considerable time and financial costs to us, plus the major inconvenience of different times from our previous classes. As an example, the Warm Water Therapy classes held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Naperville are offered at 9 a.m. at Seven Bridges. That change means members need to drive in rush-hour traffic before 8:30 a.m. to attend.
I doubt if this suggestion will be considered by the “deciders,” but why not make a good faith offer of member compensation? Not only the suggested “possible” token arrangement of a van for transportation.
I feel the Naperville mid-day members (11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays) should be given full-time membership at Seven Bridges for the same mid-day monthly dollar amount.
In addition, the Naperville full-time members should have their monthly full-time membership fees reduced to the monthly mid-day fee.
The savings from the lost staff salaries should compensate for this adjustment. If not, offer it anyway.
I realize business decisions are made by those at the top. I accept that seldom are suggestions adopted from the bottom. Well, we at the bottom, are the 99%. I challenge you “at the top” to consider making us this offer.
I have taken the tour at Seven Bridges and also the Rush Copley Healthplex in Aurora. I was given three free-day passes at the latter to entice my membership. I’ve utilized them and am impressed with their facility although the monthly cost and distance from my residence are more.
Pamela Gallagher, Naperville
Keeping fitness center open possible were it a priority
Hilary Decent attempted to present both sides of a hurtful situation in her March 26 Naperville Sun column about the Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness Center in Naperville.
Closing the center is not “complicated.” It’s profit-driven. Using Edward-Elmhurst Health’s tagline, it’s “wealthy-driven.”
The decision to close was made by executives who must not understand the demographic makeup of center members. For if they knew how many seniors, people with special health needs, people with physical/cognitive challenges, plus the seven-time state champion Naperville Waves masters swim team, called it home, would they still have made the same decision to close it?
This corporate decision is causing anguish and pain. It’s impacting real people with real life challenges. The center is a lifeline, a community.
Joe Dant, president of South Region NorthShore-Edward-Elmhurst Health, claims members left during COVID. Guess who didn’t leave? Seniors, vulnerable populations and the Waves Swim Team. These members can’t simply move to another health club.
We met in person with Edward-Elmhurst executives but the “shuttle van option” mentioned in Decent’s column was never offered for members who don’t have transportation. They saved that for the media.
Management says the center is not profitable. If a go-forward plan that includes facility investment, aggressive membership campaigns and repurposing of space were developed, the center could become profitable.
Sustaining a vision requires leadership. Many surmise that if Pam Davis, former president and CEO, whose legacy is the award-winning Edward Hospital and campus, was still in charge, the center would have remained open and a lifeline preserved for the vulnerable.
Today, the center is on life support. Whose legacy will that be?
Sheila Sarovich, Naperville
Naperville Waves swimmer
White has shown his ability to serve over and over again
We are down to the last few days before the April 4 election. It’s been a long journey for the candidates, and along the way we have learned a great deal about them.
Having been a candidate myself years ago, I know the courage it takes to place your name on a ballot and I would expect nothing less from Benny White, candidate for mayor of Naperville.
Having bravely served his country for 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, he’s shown he knows how to protect and serve all of us. He went on to serve his community for the five years as an appointed and then elected member of the Indian Prairie District 204 School Board. He has continued to serve his community for six years as a current member of the Naperville City Council, having been elected twice to this position.
Our community has already shown, through an appointment and three elections to office, that it trusts Benny White to lead with courage, vision and integrity. He is by far the most experienced and most qualified candidate in this race. Please vote for Benny White to become the next mayor of our great city!
Dianne McGuire, Naperville
Challenging White’s tax break nothing but a smokescreen
My friend Benny White is running for mayor of Naperville, and some are attacking him for the most absurd reason: That he used his veteran military benefits that allow him a property tax discount.
Yep. You read that right. They’re outraged Benny had the audacity to use the veterans benefits he received after serving 22 years in the Army.
Benny’s life is the epitome of service. After graduating from West Point, he spent 22 years in the Army. Since retiring, he’s spent decades more in service as a teacher, a community activist and in elected local public office for a decade on the school board and city council.
But perhaps most enraging to some is that Benny White is a Black man. I cannot help but remember that when the GI Bill was introduced in 1944, it was denied to Black soldiers because they were Black. And sadly, the people attacking Benny for enjoying his hard-earned military benefits today are proving just how real systemic racism is in 2023.
This isn’t ancient history, it is contemporary reality. And we must stand united against it for the cause of justice.
Let me be clear. My rant is not a blanket condemnation of people anyone. It is a rejection of those launching these vile attacks or staying quiet about them. We can and must do better.
On Tuesday, I hope all of my friends in Naperville, Republican, Democrat and Independent, come out and vote for Benny for mayor. He is a kind, thoughtful, honest and proven leader, and he has earned our votes. Let’s send a message that we will move Naperville and the United States forward to a more perfect union — together.
Qasim Rashid, Naperville
Wehrli ‘exaggerating’ his police experience
I am concerned about the misinformation relative to Councilman Benny White, who is running for mayor of the city of Naperville. His opponent, Scott Wehrli, has positioned himself as being a law enforcement professional because he works part time for the Naperville Park District Police Department.
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These are a few questions the voters should be asking:
1. How many arrests has Scott made in 32 years of service?
2. Of those arrests, how many resulted in convictions?
3. How many times has he appeared in court pertaining to his position as part-time park district police officer?
4. Where was the part-time police officer during the recent protest in downtown Naperville?
Councilman White was on the front lines assisting the police in diffusing the situation.
The voters should not be misled by exaggeration and misinformation.
Many businessmen become part-time park police officers to carry a badge and a gun. They work minimal hours per week. Please don’t compare a 22-year military veteran (White is a retired Army lieutenant colonel) with a part-time park police person.
Councilman Benny White has always been a strong and loyal supporter for public safety and the police. Naperville residents enjoy a safer community thanks to the contribution of the twice elected councilman. Thank you for your service.
Hiress Crawford-Hartsfield, Naperville
Retired Master Sergeant, Illinois State Police
White a leader with ‘integrity’ who will view all sides
I am writing to my neighbors and friends in Naperville to express my support for Benny White for mayor and to ask them to please remember to vote this Tuesday.
Benny White has a long history of service to our community. He has been an Indian Prairie District 204 School Board member and is currently a member of the Naperville City Council. He has proven leadership skills, retiring as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army after 22 years of service. He and his wife Kim have raised their children here and are committed to our community and its residents.
What impresses me most about Benny White is that he is a true leader with integrity. There is no doubt that when pressed with difficult decisions, he will consider all sides and work for a common goal of moving our community forward.
We cannot know what the future holds, or what needs will come before the mayor, but with someone like Benny White in the position, we know his willingness to try to understand all sides of an issue will forge unity; we will all benefit from his vision and leadership.
Please vote Benny White for mayor — a leader with integrity.
Kate Refine, Naperville
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