Repeal of council’s ethics ordinance neither urgent nor necessary
I am opposed to repealing the ethics ordinance, which is to be voted on at the April 18 Naperville City Council meeting.
In 2020, Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan proposed a modest ordinance amendment that updated the current ethics standard in an effort to provide more transparency. “This ordinance … provides a path to greater trust from a weary public,” Councilwoman Sullivan stated. (Dec. 16, 2020, Naperville Sun)
As an avid viewer of most Naperville City Council meetings, I can recall a handful of instances through the years when council members disclosed contributions according to the 2020 ethics ordinance. It was quick and seamless, no visible issues or complaints.
The ethics ordinance was not put on any council agenda to revisit in any urgent manner throughout those years until the recent March 21 meeting: “Mayor berates councilwoman over ‘dirty politics’ book ban election flyer mailed by her PAC.” (Naperville Sun, March 23)
The ethics ordinance can easily be updated to include contributions from a PAC. But to repeal the entire ordinance — especially by a council with four lame duck members — when the ordinance has not caused visible chaos, drama or disruption is troubling, concerning and just plain disengenuous.
Councilwoman Sullivan not only has championed transparency in her ethics ordinance, but also in her city council recaps, “Off the Dais,” which she provided for four years on social media, lending a human element to the city council meetings.
We are grateful for Councilwoman Sullivan’s valued years of service, commitment and wisdom on the dais and to all the residents of Naperville.
Lyndsey Kokoris, Naperville
Campaign disclosure rule exposes conflicts of interest
We are writing to voice our firm support for retaining Naperville Municipal Code 1-13-1, Disclosure Required, which mandates public disclosure by Naperville City Council members of relevant campaign contributions in excess of $750 related to an issue up for a vote. Our allied organizations represent over hundreds of voters in the Naperville area.
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We believe disclosure is critical to transparency and allows all constituents to understand any possible conflicts of interest from members of council. The city must move in the direction of more transparency, not less.
We support refining the ordinance so that it provides greater clarity regarding disclosure of donations. We strongly disagree with eliminating the ordinance.
We believe elimination of the ordinance will result in more conflicts of interest and an uninformed electorate. A move towards less transparency is not the way to decrease the role of outside money in our local elections.
Susan Craighead, President, The League of Women Voters of Naperville
Lee Eastman, President-elect, AAUW Naperville Area
Jill Lexier, National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago North Shore
Laura Welch, Illinois NOW
Great Easter Egg Hunt a tribute to fun and tradition
Kudos to reporter Jeff Vorva and the Naperville Sun for your excellent April 9 cover story on the Great Easter Egg Hunt held by the Naperville Jaycees and Naperville Park District.
In these times when it seems like everyone is at odds about something or other, it was great to see an event that brings people of all ethnicities, ages and preferences together to have some old-fashioned “fun.”
And Margo DeGeeter was absolutely right in mentioning how several of our families boiled and colored the eggs when the event first started. Her husband Al was president of the Naperville Jaycees the year before I was in the early ’70s so this story brings back so many fond memories, including the year we had snow and no problem hiding the eggs!
It further serves to illustrate what a fine community we have here in Naperville, where the Jaycees and the park district can partner 50 years later on an event where there is no price for admission. You only have to show up to enjoy yourself and make memories. Go Jaycees!
W. Brand Bobosky, Naperville
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