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Bob Peickert sent me a press release from his run last year for DuPage County Board in response to my post today on the Daily Herald story about the all-Republican DuPage County Board members considering Democratic ideas for cost-cutting to deal with the fiscal crisis they’ve created. Here’s an excerpt from the press release:

“Press release
For Immediate Release
September 3, 2006

Peickert calls for reduction in County Board seats.

Bob Peickert, Democratic Candidate for DuPage County Board District #1, has called for a reduction of the number of seats on the County Board from 3 to 2 in each District. Peickert claims his proposal will save the County approximately $750,000 and will have no adverse affect on County services. ‘The current 18 member Board is nothing more than a revolving door to reward Republican Party loyalists. Board members seldom communicate with voters, so what difference would it make. We need to start the budget balancing process where it will least impact the residents of DuPage County.’

Peickert also calls for an immediate 50% reduction in pay for County Board members and its Chairman. ‘Most of them have full-time jobs anyway and the $50,000 plus (with benefits and expenses) a year they receive is bonus money. Public service should be a privilege, not a luxury.’

Peickert also lashed out at the Board for voting themselves a 75% pay raise over the last 8 years. ‘How many residents of DuPage County received a pay raise averaging 9.4% a year over the past 8 years? Politics combined with greed has no place in DuPage County.’”