THE CLEAR CHOICE PATRICK SELLERS CALL FOR

CHANGE AT TOWNSHIPp3
April, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 3 Freeports source for progress, change, & reform.

SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION

CLOSE THE CALL

Hooper narrowly escapes defeat
Donna Smith
THE INDEPENDENT

ITS BEEN A LONG TIME COMIN, BUT CHANGE GONNA COME

REFORMERS

FREEPORTMost in Freeport cant remember the last time Freeport Township Supervisor Sheila Hooper was tested on Election Day, but the longtime politician had all she could handle last Tuesday. Hooper narrowly eked out a victory in a Tuesday, February 26th Citizens Party primary election over local activist John Cook. Hooper won the primary with 898 votes to Cooks 856 votes. The spoiler in the election was Stephenson County Board Member Ed Mulligan, who, despite not campaigning at all during the race, earned 427 votes in the Citizens Party contest. All total 1,283 ballots were cast against Hooper. Without Mulligans candidacy, its safe to say that Cook would have earned a decisive victory over the embattled incumbent. Although I didn't win I think my campaign was a success, more people than ever are aware of the dysfunction within Freeport Township, Cook said. Cook added that he wasn't sure if the results were as much of an endorsement for him as they were a testimony of disapproval of the way Freeport Township has operated. Hooper has come under public Continued on page 4

Township reform candidates: Kathy Altensey, Joy Sellers, Patrick Sellers (no relation to Joy), Cynthia Petta Worster, Barbara Burns, Diane Lofgren, and Nickee Bender.

Reform slate gears up for April 9th election

Jackson Worth
THE INDEPENDENT

FREEPORTFrom the very beginning of the campaign season last winter they have all had the same goalreform the offices of the Freeport Township government. Now with just a few days left before the Tuesday, April 9th election, the seven candidates are hoping that their message of change and reform has taken root with Freeport voters. The reception we have been receiving as we have been going door to-door and doing campaign events has been very positive and encourag-

ing, says Patrick Sellers, the reform slates candidate for Township Supervisor. Freeport citizens are very aware of the problems, abuse of power, and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars at the Township office and I think they are hungry for change. Sellers is running against 36 -year incumbent Township Supervisor Sheila Hooper. Rampant nepotism, cronyism, a pay advance scandal, lack of transparency and the overpayment for a new township office building, are the main

concerns the reform candidates have. They place most of the blame at the feet of Supervisor Hooper and her hand-picked Board of Trustees that have failed to maintain accountability to the taxpayers. Over the past four years our township government has lost a lot of credibility with the public because how they have chosen to conduct themselves, says Nickee Bender, an Independent candidate for Township Trustee. Our group of candidates want to restore the publics trust and get back to serving the taxpayers who pay for township government. Reform trustee candidates Joy Sellers and Kathy Altensey picked up the groups first wins be defeating incumbent Corrine Bruce. Sellers and Altensey earned 1,161 and 1,191 Continued on page 4

2 April, 2013 Vol. 1, Issue 3

SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION

Burns touts experience; fresh ideas for clerk post

THE INDEPENDENT
Barbara, many of our readers are probably curious as to what exactly does a Township Clerk actually do?

BARBARA BURNS
Thats actually a good question. The Township Clerk, is an elected official, that attends meetings of the Township Board of Trustees, keeps records of its proceedings, publishes and attests to all resolutions passed by the Board. The Clerk also attests to all contracts of the Township and other documents. Finally, the Township Clerk is responsible for keeping the official minutes of all other Township Boards, Committees and Commissions as well as maintaining the Township Codes.

Q&A
The Independent sits down with Freeport Township Clerk Candidate Barbara Burns
including minutes to Township Board Meetings, ordinances, resolutions, budget information and other informational documents. Providing these documents online would be the beginning step to eliminate the need for the public to file a Freedom of Information Act. With this information readily available to the public there will be a cost savings to the tax payer, as there will be no additional time spent by Township staff to search, assemble and mail.

THE INDEPENDENT
Why should voters choose you?

BARBARA BURNS

The positions I currently hold and those in the past require the ability to keep accurate records and to work with a variety of people with varied interests. I believe that I have the skills, as well as the desire needed to reform and modernize the duties of the Freeport Township Clerk.

THE INDEPENDENT
Finally, Barbara tells us a little about yourself.

THE INDEPENDENT
What is the most important issue in your race and what would you do about it if elected?

BARBARA BURNS

THE INDEPENDENT
Why are you running for Township Clerk?

BARBARA BURNS

BARBARA BURNS
We need to reform and modernize the duties of the Freeport Township Clerk. I would like to implement a webpage, that would provide the public and taxpayers access to records,

Reforming our township government so that its records are accessible to the public. One of the major challenges that we have right now is so many of the township records are not readily available or are uneasy to obtain.

My husband and I have been married for 38 years and we have one son. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University and currently work as a paralegal for the Law Office of Michael J. Phillips. I am an EMT with the Freeport Rural Ambulance Department and a board member of the RockfordFreeport Kennel Club.

Q&A
KATHLEEN M. ALTENSEY
I am dedicated about making positive steps to reform Freeport Township. I will ensure that the taxpayer dollars are spent on those in need within our community. I want to regain the trust and make honest, open minded decisions to assist our clients and lead them in a direction that would help them obtain a better life.

With as many problems lately at the Freeport Township Office, why are you running for Freeport Township Trustee?

NICKEE BENDER
I truly care about my community. I care about those we serve through the township services. I believe the most important issue is transparency. I will work to restore credibility and financial accountability. I am not a rubber stamp. I will put thought and research into an issue before voting, always considering how to best serve the constituents. I am not afraid to speak up when something is awry.

DIANE LOFGREN
As Township Trustee I will oversee the financial well-being of our Township Government. I will be dedicated to ensuring Freeport Township is accountable, fiscally responsible, professional and respectful to their clients. I believe the taxpayers of Freeport Township deserve someone that has their best interest at heart.

JOY HARRELL SELLERS

(not related to Patrick A Sellers) I care about the welfare of our community and feel that an important issue that needs to be addressed is fiscal responsibility. I will explore other available programs and opportunities so that Freeport Township is not solely dependent on tax payer dollars. I am committed to working hard keeping in mind the best interest of the Township and its taxpayers and their dollars.

April, 2013 Vol. 1, Issue 3

SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION

Spend any amount of time with Patrick Sellers and it becomes very clear, very quickly that the candidate for Township Supervisor has one thing on his mind: REFORM The Independent candidate is running against incumbent Freeport Township Supervisor Sheila Hooper in a Tuesday, April 9th Consolidated Municipal election. The election will determine whether long-sought after reform and change will occur in the office over the next four years.

A LOOK AT THE BOOKS

To ensure that tax dollars are being spent wisely and ethically, Sellers is calling for a full and complete audit of all the Townships financial records. There seems to be a lot of questions regarding the paying of employees and other activities involving Hoopers family members, says Sellers. I think a full audit of the townships records might help us find some of the answers to these questions, but more importantly an extensive audit will help us tighten up our practices.

TRUST IS EVERYTHING
Sellers says he believes that the key to moving the Freeport Township government forward is regaining the trust of Freeport taxpayers. Trust is everything, says Sellers, a family resource coordinator with Freeport School District #145. For any local government to be effective it has to have the trust of those that pay the billsthe taxpayers. We owe it to our taxpayers and to our community to provide them with the best township government we can. That starts with trust. Sellers this week proposed a series of reforms that he says will create a new level of transparency within the beleaguered township government. The township office has been beset with a series of ethics issues over the past two yearsincluding pay advances for staff and Hooper herself, nepotism, and violations of the Open Meetings Act.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Sellers also advocates for strict adherence to the Freedom of Information Act (FOI). During a recent investigation of the Townships payroll advance scandal many criticized Hoopers slow, and at times unwilling, response to produce pertinent documents upon request from the public. According to those investigating the pay advance scandal, it took more than 12 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to Hooper to obtain information regarding employees salaries. Even more troubling was the fact that several FOIA requests were unable to be fulfilled. Some documents had been destroyed by the township office in violation of the public records act. There is a reason why we have good government laws like the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, contends Sellers. Its so the public has a way to keep its government and its elected officials accountable. Sellers says that the Township government must also be open to public oversight. He says, if elected, he would like to have a Township website built so that people can have electronic access to meeting notices, minutes, reports, and other Township news. Sellers believes that all Township meetings should be open to the public and that notices for upcoming Continued on page 4

Freeport Township Supervisor candidate Patrick Sellers jokes with citizens at Lincoln Towers at a campaign stop last week.

Change Agent
Jackson Worth
THE INDEPENDENT

TOWNSHIP PAYGATE
In 2011 it was discovered that Hooper had given herself an additional $2,300 in salary for the year and also illegally voted to increase her own salary. It was also discovered that Hooper had been giving herself pay advances all the way back to 2007. The township pay advance scandal, unfortunately, did not stop at just Hooper. Several township employees also received pay advances on request. One employee received a full three months of pay in advance of working the required hours.

Patrick Sellers looks to bring reform, change, and accountability back to Township Supervisors office
Hoopers activities led to the sponsorship of Senate Bill 3324 by State Senator Tim Bivins and State Representative Jim Sacia. This bill will prohibit township officials from receiving pay advances. In addition, Sellers would like the financial records of the Township to be available to the public. He also says the Township must begin to produce a monthly expenditure report. Currently, the township provides no such records to the public.

Leadership; honesty key to success for political reformer Patrick Sellers

Joe Robieson
THE INDEPENDENT

Taking on difficult challenges and being a leader is not new to Patrick Sellershes been doing most of his life. Whether its working with at -risk youth, serving his community, or growing a business, Sellers knows that leadership and hard work are the keys to making change happen. Over the next 40 days Sellers will be working to bring new leadership and change to an institution that many say has lost its way in the public arena the Freeport Township government. Sellers is challenging long-time Freeport Township Supervisor

Sheila Hooper in an April 9th municipal election. I love this community, says Sellers, a 1990 graduate of Freeport High School. This is where I grew up and came back to after college to live my life, build a career, and to give something back. It saddens me to see Freeport in the condition it is in today. We need new leadership at all levels of local government. I know I can provide that leadership in our township offices. Sellers says that the Freeport Township has become complacent over the many years that Supervisor Hooper has run the local government. He points to a growing lack of transparency, financial accountability to taxpayers, and professionalism in Continued on page 4

4 April, 2013 Vol. 1, Issue 3

Sellers
Continued from Page 3
the office. Sellers says it is time to make changes in leadership at the township level, initiate reform, and bring back credibility to the local government. Our township government has a growing list of problems and challenges, argues Sellers. Once you begin to learn and investigate what has happened down there over the years, the more you realize that some big changes are needed. I intend to bring that reform and that change. Sellers was born and raised in Freeport. His father, Reverend. Lonnie Sellers, is an associate pastor at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and is a retiree of Kelly-Springfield Tire and Rubber Company. Sellers' mother is Hazel Sellers who is retired from the Freeport School District #145. My brothers and sisters and I were raised to be respectful, honest, caring, dedicated and hardworking, says Sellers. These characteristics have been instilled into my heart and mind and have been instrumental in shaping me into who I am today. Sellers currently works for Freeport School District #145 as a Family Resource Coordinator (FRC), serving lowincome students and families at Blackhawk Elementary School. Connecting families to the resources they need is what being a resource coordinator is all about, says Sellers. I really enjoy helping families and children out during difficult times. I am excited to bring that same level of compassion and enthusiasm to the township government. Sellers says that over the next several weeks he will be releasing a steady stream of reforms and changes that he believes will restore the Freeport Township government and regain the trust of the community.

Reform slate
Continued from Page 1
votes respectively to Bruces 976 votes. I am honored that the people of Freeport Township saw fit to elect me as a Township Trustee, said challenger Sellers (no relation to Patrick Sellers). I am concerned about the welfare of our community and how our tax dollars are being spent. Along with Sellers and Altensey, incumbents Alan Turner and Mickey Martin will also move on the April 9th election. The four primary election winners will be joined by two Independent candidatesNickee Bender and Diane Lofgren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4-Iqvc1Qgs

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WITH PAT SELLERS

Hooper escapes
Continued from Page 1
scrutiny over the past two years. Shes been accused by her detractors of giving herself and her staff pay advances and leading the effort to purchase a new office building at a highly inflated price. "When state lawmakers Tim Bivins and Jim Sacia sponsored legislation that was in direct response to the actions of Freeport Township Supervisor Sheila Hooper, my ears perked up." John Cook said. "Ms. Hooper it seems was giving herself and others 'advance pay' from Freeport Township coffers." Cook went on to express dismay over Freeport Township and another property tax supported entity purchasing a building in downtown Freeport. "They used taxpayer money to pay $124,000 more for a building than what it was appraised for, in my opinion this is was ludicrous, argued Cook. Township Supervisor Hooper has called this building an 'asset' yet there is no way it could be sold for as much as taxpayers paid for the building. Is this really an 'asset' for taxpayers? Hooper will face Independent candidate Patrick Sellers in the Tuesday, April 9th General Consolidated Election.

Change agent
Continued from Page 3
meetings of the local government should be posted in a proper and timely fashion. Keeping the public out or discouraging them from participating in government is never a good idea, says Sellers. I believe the more participation in government the better. Finally, Sellers says he would like to create a community board that would serve as an additional eyes and ears to the business conducted by the Freeport Township. Sellers believes that an advisory board like this may have stopped the township government from spending $124,723 more than it needed to. The township recently purchased a new office building for $376,723 when the building was only appraised at $252,000. The township has since sunk an additional $116,139 in remodeling and furnishings. Regaining the trust in our Freeport Township will be my number one priority, pledges Sellers.