Mark Kirk is the incumbent candidate for Congress from the 10^th District in Illinois – a Republican who laid claim to the legacy of John Porter. But he is no John Porter. While Porter was a champion of the environment, Kirk voted to allow the addition of 40 drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, supported a budget that wiped out funding for Superfund clean-ups, opposed an energy conservation measure and okayed trucking nuclear waste across the nation.

While Porter was a true independent, Kirk has toed the party line – supporting President Bush on unilateral plans to attack Iraq, backing post-Enron legislation that was soft on white collar crime. He has opposed a series of bills designed to make corporate executives, stock analysts and auditors more accountable to consumers and approved a budget that took $800 billion from the Social Security program. He has also resisted meaningful reform of the health care system and opposed legislation that could have helped schools.

Kirk’s reasons could be found in a disclosure form posted by the independent campaign finance website www.tray.com. It shows the congressman collected more than $60,000 from pharmaceutical and healthcare PACS, including more than $8,000 from Abbott Labs, $10,000 from the American Dental Association and $6,500 from Baxter Healthcare. Kirk’s campaign reports more than $50,000 from construction and real estate interests, $31,500 from utilities and energy firms like Nicor and Exelon (Commonwealth Edison), $24,500 from aviation and defense contractors, $19,500 from banks, including a $10,000 contribution from Household International and $7,500 from Bank One. He got about $19,000 from the insurance industry, $16,750 from accounting and finance firms, $8,000 from PACS tied to the auto industry, $5,000 from the National Beer Wholesalers’ Association and $4,000 from Harrah’s Entertainment.

All told, Kirk took in more than $1.5 million – more than three times the contributions collected by his opponent Hank Perritt. The Glencoe Democrat, who serves as Dean of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, got most of his $435,000 in campaign money from organized labor (about $38,000) and individuals with a $1,000 donation from the Trial Lawyers of America and a surprising $2,000 from Duchossois Industries. (Dick Duchossois, former owner of Arlington International Racecourse, has given generously to the GOP and Republican candidates in other elections.)

Given his incumbency, his financial backing and the fact that the 10^th District is believed to be predominantly Republican, Kirk seems a shoe-in, but The Nation recently identified this area as one of five that could shift control of the U.S. House to the Democrats. Noting that Perritt has taken a strong stand against war with Iraq, the magazine says he has "shaken up a quiet Chicago suburban race. . .Perritt, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations with broad overseas experience, wrote a September editorial for the Washington Post titled, ‘My Party Must Say No to War.’ Perritt’s challenge to Kirk remains an uphill one. But his effort to make the contest a ‘referendum’ on what he characterizes as the Bush administration’s reckless and misleading plans to start a war has energized his underfunded campaign, drawing contributions, volunteers and even an offer of help from former NATO Commander General Wesley Clark."

Last week, we wrote about Sandra Tristano, a Republican candidate for judge who, despite endorsements from Village President Larry Carlson, former Presidents Nancy Firfer and Jim Smirles and Trustees Mike Guinane and Mary Beth Denefe, was deemed unqualified by 7 of 10 legal groups that rate judicial candidates. This week, we consider other candidates who should be booted off the bench or prevented from serving in the first place. Many voters are reluctant to wade through the long list of candidates who are asking to be retained, but finding and voting "No" on 8 individuals and against 8 others should not be too tough, and it could be the most important thing you do in Tuesday’s election.

Let us tell you about one of those who is not recommended for retention by the Chicago Bar Association. The Sun-Times called him "The Late Cook County Judge James Jorzak," because "lawyers say he’s often late to work, leaves early and does a lousy job in between." Jorzak earns $136,000 a year, but the Sun-Times says he’s being sued by his condo association for failing to pay assessments since April. Police have been sent to his home to quell domestic disturbances, and he has reportedly quibbled with his neighbors. "Judge Jorzak’s conduct off the bench has brought the judiciary into disrepute," says the bar association in urging a "No" vote.

Twelve different legal groups reject Judge James Ryan who once caused a woman, charged with a traffic violation, to soil herself when he refused to let her leave the courtroom so she could use the bathroom. He also upheld a speeding ticket for a woman racing to a hospital to give birth.

Judge Charles Travis allegedly tried to use his influence to stop police from arresting his daughter and to avoid speeding tickets written against him. Eleven of 12 bar groups recommend a "No" vote.

Vanessa Hopkins, who was elected judge just two years after graduating from law school, "tries hard but not hard enough to overcome her inexperience with the law," says the Sun-Times in explaining why nine of the bar groups say she should not be retained.

Seven groups recommend a "No" vote on Judy Mitchell-Davis, five reject Loretta Carol Douglas and four find Nancy Drew Sheehan and Gay-Lloyd Lott ill-qualified to continue on the bench. To look at the ratings of all 12 Chicago area bar groups, visit www.SunTimes.com.

In addition to Jorzak, Ryan, Travis, Hopkins, Mitchell-Davis, Douglas, Sheehan and Lot on the retention ballot, you may want to vote against eight candidates in the county-wide judicial race. The Chicago Bar Association does not recommend: Janice Berman, Sandra Tristano, Jim Ryan, Valerie Turner, Casandra Lewis, Raul Vega, Anthony Lynn Burrell and James Brown.

Glenview’s incumbent lady legislators – State Rep. Beth Coulson and State Sen. Kathy Parker – have been drawn into new, more competitive districts and are fighting for their political lives. At a forum convened by the League of Women Voters, the two had a chance to defend their records in Springfield. Coulson crowed about the "F" rating she had received from the National Rifle Association and called for a 72-hour waiting period on gun purchases – a measure she thought might keep angry or suicidal people from acquiring deadly weapons.

Susan Garrett, who is running against Kathy Parker, said she also favored the 72-hour waiting period and looked forward to winning an "F" from the NRA. Parker, on the other hand, invited constituents to stop by her office and pick up a free trigger lock.

Coulson’s opponent, Democrat Pat Hughes, said gun dealers should be licensed and required to run background checks on any prospective customer. He also proposed regulation of gun manufacturers, saying they produce one of the most dangerous consumer products.

On the subject of a state vote to ease restrictions on gambling and provide subsidies to horse racing in Illinois, Hughes went on the attack, noting that Coulson – whose party took large campaign contributions from the owner of Arlington International Racecourse – supported the subsidies at a time when public education faced a $176 million cut in state funding. Coulson said she voted for the bill because, "There are many, many owners of horse breeding stables in this district, and I would say that you want a legislator who listens to their district’s constituents and votes accordingly."

On the issue of affordable housing, both Coulson and Parker tap danced furiously. Coulson admitted few people can afford to live at The Glen but suggested that Thomas House – a project which has stalled for lack of funding – would eventually provide a place for low-income seniors in Glenview. "We are looking toward that facilitating, bringing together the federal dollars, the state limited dollars that are there and some local dollars and also facilitating some low-interest loans," she said, adding that Thomas House would be open to people with a range of incomes. "I like to call it a European model. It isn’t that there’s low-income housing here and high-income housing there. Let’s have a continuum in the same building. Let’s have people all live together like they do in Paris and other major European countries. That’s what the Thomas House is going to be all about. We’re looking at trying to develop that and actually are going to be raising funds. I hope we can pull it off."

Hughes, a trustee in the village of Wilmette, admitted his community has a long way to go in providing affordable housing but said a program had been established to buy and resell condos at reasonable rates to qualifying seniors. He also suggested the state provide low-interest loans to help seniors maintain the homes they have and thought grants should be given to those who sometimes find it difficult to keep up with property tax payments.

Susan Garrett supports freezing of property tax assessments for people 65 and older who have income of no more than $40,000. Parker acknowledged the importance of affordable housing but advanced no specific ideas. "It would be good to have a good conjunction together and good cooperation so that we can look at affordable planning – planning for where people live, planning on if communities will have the opportunity for seniors and those people that can actually live in the area and work in the area but maybe not afford the price of a home. We would like to keep people in the area that they would like to belong in," she said.

But it was on the subject of changes in a state social program that Parker seemed to lose her focus completely. Does she support a requirement that people who get limited home care in order to stay out of a nursing home be required to apply for Medicaid? The state has imposed that rule, hoping to get some additional federal money to run the Community Care program.

"We certainly want to make certain that our Community Care program certainly is good, has been good," said the incumbent senator. "We do not want to be able to lose clients, and we don’t want to make it onerous so people do not apply for it. So even though it is a good idea to go after the federal matching grant funds, we certainly are going to need to monitor this very carefully and make this consumer-oriented so that we have a good Community Care program, and I’m certainly certain that you’ll see that the legislature will look at this very closely."

On a related note, two supporters of Parker have mailed thousands of letters to Jewish residents on the North Shore accusing Garrett of a "tremendous lack of sensitivity, understanding and concern for our community."  The authors allege Garrett accepted an endorsement from the United Muslim American Association.  Garrett says she didn't ask for the group's support, did not know about the endorsement and does not accept it.

The horror was real for two Glenview families Halloween night when children were hit by cars at two locations in the village. Six-year-old Kyle Gomez, 8-year-old Nikkole Gomez and 17-year-old Brian Streiff were struck while crossing the 1500-block of Milwaukee Avenue. Kyle and Nikkole suffered skull fractures. He is recovering at Christ Hospital where he was taken by helicopter. She was discharged from Lutheran General on Friday, and Streiff was treated and released on Thursday night.

Two minutes after the accident on Milwaukee, Glenview police were called to Pfingsten Road near Crestwood where a 14-year-old girl had been hit. Julia Panayioyou is recovering from internal injuries at Lutheran.

Editor’s note: Pfingsten Road is an increasingly busy route through northwest Glenview, taking cars and pedestrians to Glenbrook South High School, Glenbrook Hospital, the Plaza del Prado and Glenbrook Market shopping centers. It’s a natural route from Lake Avenue to the Tri-State Tollway and serves as an alternative to congested Waukegan Road, yet there are few traffic lights and few street lights on this busy thoroughfare between Lake Avenue and Willow Road. If Glenview had a traffic and pedestrian safety commission, it might have called this trouble spot to the attention of local officials before Thursday’s tragic accident. Instead, the job falls to Glenview Watch.

GLEN WATCHING

Last week we shared the story of a couple fighting to put a balcony on their million dollar home at The Glen. This week, another tale of trouble, tears and tantrums before The Glen Redevelopment Commission involving a couple intent on building a patio and bordering their driveway with brick.

The petitioners had purchased their James Company house from a previous owner after moving here from Dallas, a city where concrete is king. The lady of the house, Amy Jo Leszkinski, said she was having trouble turning into her narrow driveway without rolling onto the grass.

Looking closely at plans for the property, commission members pointed out that the Leszynski's house was already more than 400 square feet over the allowable maximum impervious surface – paving and building that prevent storm water from going into the ground. Under those circumstances, Commission Chairman Howard Silver was reluctant to allow any more pavement. "You're relatively close to the lot line, and you're going to fill-in what's not supposed to be filled in a side yard setback."

"What should I put there?" asked the homeowner. "I'm trying to get better at it, but I still roll off. I don't know what to do."

"You need a smaller car," said Silver. 

"Smaller than a Cherokee?" she replied. "I've got three kids."

Moving along to the subject of a patio, Silver said he had snooped around the yard and noted the house already had a back porch, taking up most of the rear lot. He worried that the Leszynskis might "open up a flood gate," prompting the neighbors to ask for patios.

Commissioner Mary Novotny again noted that the property was overbuilt by a substantial amount and had a front porch as well as the one out back. "To have two porches and a patio is excessive," she said. "The property is maxed out."

The commission suggested permeable paving, and the homeowner said she would consider that, but two weeks later the man of the house, Ed Leszynski, came before the commission to reject that idea. "Unfortunately, all the landscape architects we discussed it with pointed out safety concerns. They mentioned that quite frequently guests get their heels stuck in the gaps, and for little kids playing on various push vehicles or roller skates, it could be hazardous. Since Amy Jo couldn't be here tonight, I just thought it would be important to explain why safety is a big concern to her. At least once a week she is called into Glenbrook Hospital to operate on a broken hip or broken ankle of someone who either fell or tripped. As a result of her appearance last month, my wife has been approached many times – especially along the sidelines of last week's homecoming game – with people who recognized her from her past years of training in the community. I just want to say for the community and for her colleagues that she still is Dr. Patacik and not Mrs. Leszynski, and her office is here in Glenview with Illinois Bone and Joint, and for all those with foot and ankle pain out there in Glenview, I'm sure she'd be glad to help you out."

"This is public television," said a smiling Chairman Silver. "We don't have commercials." 

Leszynski proceeded to argue that his property was unique because so many square feet had been devoted to the porches, and he quoted a village engineer who thought the addition of a small patio would not mean flooding for neighbors. He promised to remove a section of the turn around in his driveway and build a smaller patio.

Novotny continued to cite local building ordinance. "The house is just too big for the lot. Without touching anything, you're 426 feet over the impervious, and now you're asking for over 871. Anywhere else in the village, there is no way. The zoning board thinks twice even if people only ask for 2 feet, 5 feet if they're over. If you don't comply, you have to remove something."

Leszynski argued that lots of water seeps into the ground below his porches, and those should not be considered impermeable square footage.

Eventually, all of the commissioners but Novotny agreed to let the petitioner do what he wished with the understanding that he would remove a section of driveway and plant grass. 

Editor's note: Some landscape architects may recommend what they know – the tried and true plants and paving materials they have used for years. The Morton Arboretum must be extremely careful about public safety, if only to avoid lawsuits, yet it has opted to install a kind of permeable parking lot that does not put the public at risk. We urge Glenview's professional and volunteer planners to learn more about this environmentally-friendly option and to encourage its use in Glenview to reduce flooding and water pollution caused by the extensive paving of our town.

DISTRICT 34 SCORES IMPROVING

District 34 reports rising test scores. In a press release, officials say the number of students who met or exceeded standards on the ISATs (Illinois Standards Achievement Test) was up for the third straight year. The magic number in 2000 was 82.2 percent. In 2001, 83.3 percent made the grade, and last year there were 83.9 percent of students in those categories. 

NEWS FROM THE NEIGHBORS

– The Illinois Department of Transportation has approved warning lights for the Metra crossing at Dundee Road. Three people have lost their lives over the past four years after colliding with trains at the intersection.

– Cook County has stepped up to provide $1.8 million for turn lanes off Waukegan onto Walters Road in Northbrook after IDOT refused to approve the project. Local residents have argued the area was dangerous for children headed to Meadowbrook School, Northbrook Junior High and St. Norbert's.

– Morton Grove dispatchers are training on new equipment – preparing to team up with Des Plaines, Niles and Park Ridge at a joint emergency communications center early next year. The village board voted to go regional after a consultant said it would save Morton Grove $329,000. Officials also predict that the team approach will improve service.

– Anticipating the loss of tax revenue from Abt Electronics, Morton Grove trustees are considering a lean budget for 2003 with cuts of $1.6 million and a small increase in property taxes expected to cost the owner of a home valued at $150,000 - $200,000 between $26 and $36 per year. Forty per cent of Morton Grove's sales tax used to come from Abt. Local officials look forward to new revenue from the Acura dealership, which will move there from Glenview next spring or summer and from a new Menard's store.

– Riverwoods, a small residential community along Lake-Cook Road, is poised to raise its local sales tax by one-half a percent to fund maintenance of water, sewers and streets. That would put the total sales tax at 7 percent and could generate considerable new revenue when The Shoppes of Riverwoods opens at the corner of Milwaukee and Deerfield roads. 

FOOD, FOOD EVERYWHERE

– Viccino's will open Wednesday at the Plaza del Prado serving pizza, pasta, beer and wine at its new sit-down restaurant.

– The Italian Perk has finally opened in the 3300 block of Milwaukee Avenue next to Famo's. It features espresso drinks, gourmet Italian ice cream, pastries and pizza.

– The International House of Pancakes has broken ground on Willow Road in the shopping center anchored by Target and Kohl's.

...AND NOT A DROP TO SPARE?

The Northfield Township Food Pantry says its shelves are bare and 120 families are expected to stop by this month for assistance. If you'd like to make a donation or organize a food drive, call 847-724-8300.

READERS WRITE

John Ranz responds to the "seasoned observer" who said Ranz and two others were the only people behind a movement to stop School District 34 from raising taxes: "How predictable! Personal attacks and no ideas. No talk of the issues that we raised. I suggest a course in Critical Thinking 101. The issues, my seasoned friend, are quality education at an affordable price and honesty in government. Had the citizens of Glenview been presented with the real facts, they would never have approved the funds to build a school. They were misled! The district failed then, and they still fail to present an honest projection of student enrollment. We were correct then, and we are correct now. Based on real numbers, there is no need to open another school at this time. As long as the district treats cluster boundaries like the Berlin Wall, they will always be able to invent a space crisis where none exists.

"The seasoned citizen questions the validity of the positions that CARE has taken, but tax cap-busting referenda were rejected in 1993, before CARE was founded, and two additional times. The number of people in CARE is not the issue. The number that are willing to get slammed around in the press with personal attacks from people that can't or won't do the math is small indeed compared to the total membership and following. Again, count the votes and look at the facts. All of the ‘improvements' that were behind the rejected 1993 referendum were accomplished without a tax increase. Trust this seasoned observer. All students and programs can be accommodated without a change in our tax rate. 

"I also want to condemn the seasoned observer's slam against Larry Miller. Any community member who is willing to commit his or her time to serve on any of our boards deserves our respect, even if we disagree with them on certain issues. Larry has proved many times over that he is one of those rare individuals that is able to think outside of the box and therefore makes a valuable contribution to any undertaking. Larry knows more about school finance and the budget than most board members and was a resource to his fellow board members while on the board."

GH attacks efforts to justify the architecture of Attea: "An attack on the lavish middle school at The Glen prompted District 34 supporters to scurry around and locate a comparably opulent middle school in the area. They couldn't find anything like it in the wealthy North Shore suburbs but were able to find something fancy in Park Ridge. Residents of that community will tell you that Emerson School, built five years ago, was a mistake. We Glenview taxpayers should not be bamboozled by this disingenuous and misleading comparison, but get back to basics and ask District 34 to build a realistic middle school with funds derived from the sale of Attea to a private company in search of a headquarters. We would have a new school and plenty of money left over for operating expenses instead of facing a hefty tax increase."

Big Swede has a suggestion for the new park land along Milwaukee Avenue: "How about a bmx track for the bikers on that part of the property not yet developed. The park district has 56 acres of the old Town and Country parcel adjacent to the developed portion. Elgin has a bmx track (dirt hills with turns, moguls, jumps) off Route 20, which has starting gates etc. I'm sure that with all the area construction, someone would love to 'donate' the excess dirt necessary to build such a facility, which would allow the bikers to have their own facility rather than trying to sneak time at the skate park. Why is it those who are being paid such high salaries can't think of these things?"

HB adds to our list of executives who drive vehicles paid for by taxpayers, maintained by taxpayers and filled with gasoline at taxpayer expense: "The supervisor of public works and his assistant also have personal village vehicles." 

Two weeks ago, a reader asked why there were no lights along John's Drive south of The Glen's Metra station and suggested the situation was unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. This week, the department of public works replies: "[A new bike path] makes the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists, [but] lighting is not funded in the current village budget or five-year capital plan. . .Providing lighting for all bike paths would be a costly standard to meet. Many areas of bike paths in the metropolitan region are not lighted, including the Cook County Forest preserve path that runs through Harms Woods."

The Watch responds: This argument misses a critical point. Unlike forest preserve paths that are recreational in nature, paths leading to a train station are clearly intended for commuters who should be rewarded for attacking traffic congestion and air pollution in a very personal way. Glenview trustees should make their protection a priority.

Biff Thiele worries about the impact of The Glen on Glenview: "I don't blame the residents of The Glen for Glenview's woes. I blame the people that made The Glen more important than the concerns of Glenview itself. I blame the individuals who are attempting to create a new downtown at the expense of the existing downtown. Developers are making a killing at The Glen off the backs of Glenview taxpayers, compliments of village managers. First those managers surprise us with major cost overruns for infrastructure at The Glen. Then they screw our schools, park district and library out of millions of dollars in impact fees and drop $70 million into the MURC to guarantee that other investors don't get cold feet. Now, we find them stealing the 20 percent from Glen land sales that they promised would go directly into capital improvement projects outside of The Glen. 

"Village Manager Paul McCarthy wants to sink our money into his new police station and village hall – inappropriate expenditures at this time. Storm sewers are more urgently needed. The current police station is adequate for Glenview's current needs, and the only thing inadequate about Village Hall are the people directing this shell game. Year after year, they tell us whatever we want to hear in order to get those bulldozers in to lay waste to every available square foot of green space in Glenview. Then comes the smoke and mirrors with regard to revenues and our tax dollars. When asked for answers, Glen Redevelopment Director Don Owen and Village Manager Paul McCarthy dance a mean two-step around the tough questions, but the fact is they took our capital improvements money and applied it to their own pet projects at The Glen. Instead of getting a pulse on public concerns, village staff has a stranglehold over public will and our elected board endorses it. With them holding the purse strings on our finances, they are choking the life out of this community."

YOUR TURN: Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. If you haven’t already done so, please consider making a contribution to support The Watch. Non-deductible checks should be payable to Glenview Watch. Thanks for your support and for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors.

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