Five Republicans vie for four seats on Belvidere Township board
BELVIDERE – In what will be the first of two elections for four seats on the Belvidere Township Board of Trustees, five Republicans are vying for the party’s nomination to move on to the April 9 general election.
The first stop will be Tuesday’s GOP primary election in which incumbents Bill Robertson and Bob Turner will face off against newcomers Kathy Grover, Richard Nelson and Cathy Ward.
The top four vote getters will advance to April 9, when they will go against Democrats Delores Puplava, Robert Smuszkiewicz, Kevin Swezey and Patrick Whitehead.
Robertson has been on the board for the past eight years. “We have a very transparent township government,” he said of the way it conducts the people’s business.
He’d like to continue being part of the board “to make sure the correct information is given to the public.” He also wants to have a hand in continuing that transparency.
And he wants to refute inaccurate information he said continues to get into a Rockford newspaper.
Robertson has been active as the township’s liaison to the Keen Age Center, which provides a variety of services for senior citizens under the Boone County Council on Aging.
Last year the township provided $25,000 for the purchase of a 2012 Dodge Caravan to take residents to medical appointments.
Turner is winding down his first four-year term on the board.
“I’m just a normal working man trying to do a good job for residents of the township,” he said.
Kathy Grover said she believes “you cannot complain unless you get involved.”
She said she attended school in Capron and graduated from North Boone High School. “As a property owner, I have the opportunity for my tax dollars to be used to support the primary and high school I attended,” she said.
“Integrity and pride of ownership make me proud to live in this township,” she added.
Serving takes work
Nelson said being a township trustee takes a lot more than meets the eye.
“It takes homework and research,” he said. “There are meetings to attend. You don’t just sit there.”
Now 71 and having been retired for the past 15 years, he said he believes he has the time and what it takes to make decisions that are best for the majority.
“There are two openings so I’m not trying to take anyone’s job,” he said, referring to trustees Debbie Carlson and Paul Zeien, who chose not to seek re-election.
Being a successful businessman, Nelson said he thought he was “able to manage the money that’s entrusted to me. I believe in having a budget and in having back-up money. I think I have the common sense and wisdom to make sound decisions.”
He added, “Running a township is the same as your house or a business.”
A lifelong resident of Boone County, he said he’s not running for the money trustees are paid each year. “I’m doing it to help people,” he said.
Ward said she’s running for the board in order “to help make some very necessary changes in their rules and decisions.”
Recent decisions, she said, intensified her interest in helping make changes. “For years, the elected officials have been overpaid, especially when they voted themselves full health benefits for a very part-time job.”
In addition, she said, “For years, they have overtaxed our residents and built up huge fund balances and neglected compassion for those truly in need. Some of them have also shown incredible disrespect for those who seek assistance or seek answers.”
11 Responses to Five Republicans vie for four seats on Belvidere Township board
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GO IT ALONE
February 28, 2013 at 4:33 am
For Johnd12 – a “holler” is probably where I might
find a “skunk” – that answer your question? You live in the “holler”…..Finally in 1979 our health insurance was provided by Prudential Ins. and 10 employees WAS the requirement. I believe
the voters don’t live in the holler with you as the
results of the election should tell you something?
The End.
johnd12
February 26, 2013 at 4:48 am
Where is the property tax bill for boone county? How can he take a homstef exemption for Winnebago and claim residancy for a candidate on boone?
JJones
February 26, 2013 at 12:02 am
There were two names on the tax bill…one blacked out and I am not privy to his personal life.
johnd12
February 25, 2013 at 10:59 pm
Would that be where his tax bill and car registration gas as well?
JJones
February 25, 2013 at 12:59 pm
How do you know personal mail goes to the Township? Maybe it goes to his address on E 4th St.
johnd12
February 25, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Go it alone since you know so much did you know when murphy and mr lee started their schem to keepr lee on the ballot all this years while taking a homested exemption on his roxkford home. I mean this is why mr lees personal mail goea to the township office. The only people I see supporting these peoplw are the people and businesses that directly benifit from them.
johnd12
February 25, 2013 at 2:01 am
Go it alone. I never said it was ms ward who cut the salaries I said people like her. As for the very noble cause or any noble cause it is not the place for ANY goverment to take my money by force and givr it to any one. America America is the most generous people on our planet they will willing donate for a good cause. I also suggest you check you info on the health car I googled it and the state saya an employere needs a minimum of 2 employees not 10. Maybe google or the lawyer were present to help with that answer. Have a good evening
Whats a holler?
GO IT ALONE
February 24, 2013 at 5:48 am
In the beginning in order for our twp employees to be able to obtain health insurance there had to be at least 13 employees – thus the trustee being included at that time. I was not born in Belvidere nor a member of the “good ole boys” – but worked long hours establishing the workfare program and the beginning of the Keen Age Center which met in a store front for many years,,,,I am sure at that time the health dept would have closed us down BUT there were very many needy srs, who had no family to spend holidays with so the twp staff took their lunch hour and went up the st from the office and served our sr, citizens and we rec’d a great reward
of compassion from those srs. Now lets move forward,,,,Lets go ahead to Anna Gray and the fund raiser to build a new building,,,,lets remember people like Anna and Roberta Henneberry who at that time was a employee of Ill, Dept of Public Aid,,,who worked very hard to help srs fill out forms and get grants and worked along with the twp office showing COMPASSION MS Ward to many low income srs – presenting themselves at the twp bd mtgs to apply for aid from the twp budget. She went on to several other twps and were encouraged by then Bob Turner, Supv, to support this endeavor,,,lo and behold with the land donation from the Wolf family – we have a new beautiful Keen age Cente,,,,,now Anna retires and we get a new Director and lots of things changes,,,,,our lower income srs were invaded by middle and upper class residents NOW that we had a brand new bldg,
Was this wrong but if you get the picture….lots of our lower income citizens were looked down on,,,,dont deny it – I was there – I saw the change, Thank goodness for the caregivers who were hired to go into our srs homes and help them and this program survives today or many srs would still not be able to remain in their homes, They were amazing as my Mother was a recipient of their services. I am proud of our Boone County Council of Aging and its services but it took a lot of hard work and donations from many classes of people,l,,,,I saw a change in the activities and the difference of the people who now came and participated at the brand new bldg who wouldn’t have set their foot inside that old storefront on sTATE ST, YRS BACK………..GET MY PICTURE….MS
Ward – Belvidere twp has and always will show compassion to our townspeople regardless of race, income etc, Lastly YOU had nothing to do with the
twp supv. salary being cut in half. That was done
four years prior when elected officials salaries are set in stone prior to election by our then present board, Seemingly you take credit for quite a lot of things that you had nothing to do with in
the final “vote” – I think there is a “good ole girls” precident.,,.,,.set by you……like I said the pot calling the kettle black, Seemingly you have raised yourself to a higher level including taking over a “reserved” table at a recent fund raiser…..seemingly higher and mighty
than the people that table was reserved for. Face it people have your number…..and Les Reid’s family pkg……I don’t think so.,…..Come on voters – Open your eyes unlike the school district
,,,,,,don’t open up the township to those who have no experience – those same ones who have a thorn in their side and don’t know one thing about the internal workings of twp government. We have nothing to hide,,,,,you are all like little children who act just like that when they dont get their own way, It doesn’t matter if I was a BNR
(which I am not) but IF you read the prev letter you would see that at one time we had a local atty.
whom we went to all the twp atty classes. There were times years back when we had an atty present
at twp board meetings and the auditor – for questions to be answered and confirmed – At this present time Mr. Mattison has wasted much time asking questions that don’t even pertain to twp govt…..and his addition and subtraction could use some help as his figures don’t add up. All in
all I am feeling like you people are digging in the
wrong hole…..the skunk is in the holler….can you smell him? Wise up voters,,,,,,Wise up, This is not the Mr. Mattison has attacked ,,,,,,and again comes up EMPTY – his “good ole boys” are the
ones to go,…….and also one of his “good ole
gals”………….Vote for Tami = experience counts,,,,who do you think gathers all the current assessor information that counts?? Get out and Vote!
JJones
February 23, 2013 at 1:39 pm
johnd12…I don’t remember Mrs. Ward having anything to do with the salary change or the insurance. These were all changed when the board of trustees set the salaries etc for the current term of office that ends this May. A former trustee was behind these changes..not Mrs. Ward. Oh by the way I am not a BNR. Guess I have never understood that reference.
johnd12
February 23, 2013 at 8:52 am
Well former good ole boy or would that be present not sure. Definitely a BNR born here raised here we have alway done things this way. In a recent register star article the paper cited the foia request accounted for lesd thsn 3, 000 dollars of the 40 someTHOUSANDS of dollars spent by a transparent goverment hiding behind lswyers. You must be missing all that transparent extra money from small things here and there. However you are very correct the voters are very smart so smart that Mr Murphy clsimed requires a lawyer to assist in written and verbal questions. Wait now I understand everything I have been hearing about township assistance, its the townships need of legal and financial assataince to our tax dolllars. If people like ms.ward did not question goverment mr. Murphy would still be collecting 70, 000 a year in salary and the board trustees would still be getting health care insurance paid from tax payers 100 percent. When a goverment is questioned and certin people become upset at the idea of how dare you. I bet the people who questioned ms crumwell were given hell for even questioning a sweet gray haired nice lady. We have a right to question our government when a lawer is needed and individuals are pointed out for that with scruinitty makes me wonder what else are you hiding.
GO IT ALONE
February 23, 2013 at 6:24 am
This reply for Ms Ward – I don’t believe you belong on both the county board and the twp board. I also take issue with your comment about our twp not showing compassion to those who seek assistance and answers. Some of us have reached into our own pockets in past years because not always do these applicants qualify for twp assistance according to the Township Rules for General Assistance set up by statewide twp officials……and several times due to Illinois Dept of Public Aid waiting on the clients paperwork.A big step for our twp was to take on intergovernmental work for the outlying twps – this was beneficial to these smaller twps as their client intake was not as heavy as Belvidere Twp. This saved them dollars in the long run when it came to training and guidelines. Compassion always was shown. I challenge you to inquire with Salvation Army, Boone County Council on Aging, Dept of Social Security/ SSI/ Disability applications/ local bankers and caseworkers who worked by our side to show compassion. You see what you want to see as far as our fund balances,
There are also rules as to what amounts we are to have on backup for General Assistance, One large medical claim could wipe out our funding entirely. We also have established guidelines as to our levy
presented to the county clerk. There is more involved than just sitting in a trustees seat and signing and approving the bills presented. Working under Mr. Turner you were assured deadlines were met – budgets completed and legal postings followed. I trained the government bookkeeper who now remains Supv Murphy’s right hand “man”……..
I believe it is good to be a “watchdog” of our twp
workings but the underlying reasons you “attacK’ us on are simply that “attacks” when you do not know all the workings and guidelines. Change is good if it is for the right reasons but you have
drug many of our elected officials through the mud with no proof of wrong doing. You were the reason
for the legal fees because you didn’t believe what you were told. And if the public is gullible enough to swallow the “FAMILY PKG” of Mr. REid and his son in law whom I doubt even has a CDL let alone drive a snowplow…..and involves his young child to write a letter ………..well, figure it out voters.
Thank you – just some simple facts………….from a retired twp employee who
lived through many people like you looking in from the outside and passing judgement when a simple phone call could have answered your question…..we have nothing to hide. I support Mr. Pat Murphy, Mr. Richard Lee, Trustees Turner, Grover, Robertson and Nelson. My vote will be Ms
Tami Torrance for assessor. Ms Schabacker for town clerk.