IL YR Chairman wins national post

Saturday at the national Young Republican convention in Indianapolis, Illinois YRs State Chairman Dennis Cook was elected Auditor of the national YRs. 

Pictured to the right with his daughter after today's election, Cook currently serves as Consolidated High School District 230 School Board President and is running in the 2010 Republican race for state comptroller.

The comptroller race, which normally doesn't attract much attention, has becoming more interesting with word that incumbent State Comptroller Dan Hynes is considering a 2010 bid for governor and former State Treasurer Judy Baar-Topinka is now also reportedly considering running for State Comptroller.

Comments

[Bob Shelstrom]

This is scary!

Here's a guy who cast the deciding vote to increase and maintain some of the highest fee burdens on families (over $250/student) in the suburbs to builds a multi-million dollar surplus in his district 230.

He refuses to let any qualified professionals participate in providing committee oversight in his $25 million "stealth" construction program because, well, he'd rather certain pointed, critical questions not be asked.

He also fought saving millions for the students and taxpayers by opposing privitizing maintenance in district 230 in return for union support.

Oh, he also called a teacher's contract starting with a 6% increase, followed by about 4% increases, as "good for the students, good for the staff, and good for taxpayers." even though increases averaged about double the CIP.

Hurting families with unnecessary fees, siding with unions against taxpayers and students, and avoiding informed oversight and questioning of his "pork" projects at all costs.

Sound like a great candidate. For the Democrats, that is!

[James Eiden]

Bob:

Your comments don't tell the full story and you know that.

To put it bluntly your an individual who has run for both the grade school board and high school on several occasions and can't seem to place better than last each time. You have tried on several occasions to muscle your way on to committees on the 230 board and with no success are turned away each time.

Dennis Cook has fought for this district for nearly 8 years. He won the majority of votes as a young man in his 20's in his first bid for office. He has been the President since his second year on the board.

Under his guidance the board has not had to ask the taxpayers for a single dollar, which is very remarkable considering most of the other school districts both primary and secondary have had tax increases in the past few years. District 140 for example which is a primary school district that sends it students to district 230 in Tinley Park has had tax increases on average ever 6-8 years.

You seem to have a personal problem with Mr. Cook and your emotions give your position away. If Mr. Cook is wrong and you are truly a value to the district than you should have no problem getting elected. That way you can work hand in hand as a board member with Mr. Cook and fix all the terrible things he has done.

With regard to his support for the Union. It was not that he is opposed to saving tax payer money, he is opposed to doing it at the cost of taxpayer's families. Outsourcing isn't always the best alternative for this nation. I think today would be a pretty compelling argument for that. His opposition, truly laid with the fact that they wanted to outsource to save money because of the over spending that was done on the addtions to the three schools. Something that happened long before Mr. Cook was elected. He saw this as a band-aid approach at the risk of facility security, families losing their jobs, etc...

While Aramark is not doing a bad job at servicing the 3 schools, I am an alumni of Andrew and believe that the union district staff did a better job. There was a certain level of pride those employees took in maintaining the grounds. Something that today's revolving 7 dollar an hour employees at Aramark do not seem to have.

The great thing about a democracy is that you can have a voice and create change. If you don't like the board's policies then great a platform, show us your alternatives and file your paper work YET AGAIN.

In a state were conservatism is a lost word. Dennis Cook is a fresh face. Mr. Cook would gladly get my vote wherever his public service ambitions take him.

[Pat Henry]

It's concerning to me that people who are elected officials, who should know better, decided to continue to support Audra, even after she made these racist statements. People that not only supported her but continued to run on Audra Shay's Ticket such as:
Audra Shay's Treasurer Candidate - Kelly Arnold, County Clerk - Sedgwick County, Kansas
Audra Shay's Auditor Candidate - Dennis Cook, President, Consolidated District 230 Board of Education - Illinois (who is thinking of running for Statewide Office in Illinois)

I think it is unacceptable to have these elected officials continue to get elected after their support of such behavior from Mrs. Shay. They should resign along with Mrs. Shay.

[Bob Shelstrom]

MR Eiden:

I left a lot of the "whole story" out because it could fill a book and some of the "true story" may not reflect well on Mr Cook's honesty and character.

As far as me "muscling" my way on to a committee,it's true that I've volunteered to serve on both the Building and Finance and Education committees.

As a former high school and college math and science teacher, as well as a quality improvement team leader,I'd gladly stack my credentials with anyone on that committee.

As a professional engineer with degrees in both civil and mechanical engineering, as well as years of past experience in school design and project management, I wouldn't think that I'd need to "muscle" on to a building committee.

The fact is that I'd gladly step aside for other similarly qualified individuals to be on the committees,but Dennis refuses to let anyone with professional school design credentials particpate on his building and grounds committee, with the exception of a contractor who's got a rep as a political booster.

As far as your statement concerning best qualified candidates getting elected to school boards or other office, either you are incredibly naive or simply dishonest.

When only 15% of a community goes out to bother to vote for school elections, votes in Palos and Orland correlate to 1)ethnicity, 2) support by a patronage driven political organization and 3) money for mailings.

In the last two 230 elections, one unsuccessful candidate spent $15K (being Greek was too much of a "liability" to overcome", and one spent $12K this time and lost because she didn't have the right "green" lineage.

That's how we get unions packing the boards with those who will give away the store to them at the student and taxpayer expense.

As far as the privatized maintenance being inferior to the previous more highly paid union staff's work, I've frequently been at the schools for the last four years for things you don't care to attend like committee meetings and school board meetings.

I well remember the "old staff" and challenge you to find a single way that schools were better maintained or operated under them. Abstract and perhaps erroneous claims of "pride" just don't cut it.

Regarding his rapid ascension to President, don't you find it curious that 26 year old guy with little professional experience and virtually no record of accomplishment on the board is able to euchre his way to the top position?

There is no question that Mr Cook is an excellent politician.

He made deals with certain political organizations to get elected and become President, and they got their payback.

If selling out the students and taxpayers to the unions gets him elected, there'll be a sale.

As far as his looking out for "families", apparently you're not a district parent. I just paid a $600 bill for my two students' "fees" to get a "free" education in 230. This money is going for Dennis's "surplus" so that he can be generous with the unions in their next contract, and of course get campaign contributions and other support from them.

The fact is that we have about 200 "Dennis Cooks" in Springfield right now who are all about their personal privilege and ambition at the expense of families and taxpayers.

WE really don't need one more by electing Dennis, but he is the lesser of two evils if the choice is him or Judy Baar!

[Jon Zahm]

I hope Dennis did not support a 6%/4% teacher's pay increase in this economy as reported above. I serve on the Orion School Board and voted for a 1.2%/1.1% increase last month. I am thankful for our school teachers agreeing to that very modest increase. Asking for four times that is greedy on the part of Dennis' teachers and the board should not have gone along with it, if Mr. Shelstrom's report above is accurate, as I expect that it is.

[Jim Eiden]

MR Shelstrom:

I have been to many school board meetings over the years. I work the afternoon shift so I can not attend every meeting. In fact if you pull the archives from the Southtown and Star, you'll see I am pictured at meetings and also quoted.

I never make politics personal. If you are so qualified and you believe you are the best candidate then use your superior intelligience and experience and find a way to win.

Your agrument although logical to some extent is flawed. It's like having a guy with a 300 IQ and another guy that has a 150 IQ. The 300 IQ is only good to society if he puts it to good use. Aptitude alone does not create a winning environment.

If you in your heart believe you are more qualified and better off to serve than current board members, you have to find a way to get that out to the community.

Clearly that is your short fall. Don't blame "politics", or "unions" or "irish heritage" as the reason you were not elected.

Go on the State website and look up Dennis Cook's campaign account. He doesn't have much money in there, even now as he is considering a state-wide run. So clearly the unions as you put it must not be doing a good job or paying him off.

And as far as I can recall, he did not receieve any money from the union when he ran for his first term in office. So his vote with regards to the custodial staff is moot.

Politics today is like professional sports. If you want to play then you better put up some cash and get ready to have your ego bruised. Even little races require an organized campaign.

If only 15% percent turnout, then you better make sure its your 15%.

I don't mind the fees and here's why! I am a conservative. I don't like paying 5 grand a year for schools that have none of my children in yet. I am actually a voucher supporter. If the fees keep my taxes from going up I am all for it. Let the people who are using the schools at the time put a little extra into it. I don't think seniors should have to pay more when they have no children in the system, or younger families, or single people.

I also believe that a surplus is a good thing. Like any household you should have a little money put away for a rainy day. You never know when that surplus might be needed. That money is then spent without additional cost to the taxpayers in the form of a bond referendum.

You sound like a smart guy, however it sounds like you need to spend a little money and get yourself into a campaign school for aspiring political candidates. Its good capital to invest in.

That way instead of complaining about how the deck is stacked against you, you can just go out and run an effective campaign that wins.

I am often reminded of Tom Hanks- "THERE IS NO CRYING IN BASEBALL."

GOOD LUCK BOB--- if your the best man for the job we'll all be better off, if not well good luck.