Month: April 2009

Dogwood parade goers should stand, salute flag

Posted by dwilson – April 29, 2009

Norbert Bentele, a member of the Korean War Veterans Color Guard, said the veterans will lead the Quincy Dogwood Parade for the 20th year in a row on Saturday.

Bentele is proud of his participation with the honor guard, where the average age is 78.5 years. He’s proud of his hometown. He just wishes those attending the parade would show similar pride in the flag.

“Only about a third of the people along the parade route stand and salute,” Bentele said.

He reminds parade goers that the proper flag etiquette is to “stand straight and place your right hand over your heart.” Veterans already know to salute the flag.

Specter’s party change all about re-election

Posted by dwilson – April 28, 2009

Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania sits on the Democratic side of the dais during an appropriations hearing in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on the day he announced that he was switching his political party to Democrat on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania sits on the Democratic side of the dais during an appropriations hearing in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on the day he announced that he was switching his political party to Democrat on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

Few close observers of politics were caught off guard by U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter’s announcement Tuesday that he is switching party allegiance and will now be known as a Democrat.

Specter, 79, is serving his fifth term in the Senate. The longtime Pennsylvania Republican said the GOP has moved increasingly to the “right” in recent years. That led to more instances where Specter was out of the Republican fold on votes.

“I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” Specter said in a statement to The Associated Press.

More likely, Specter found his political fortunes more in line with being labeled a Democrat. During his public statements, Specter noted that 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania switched their party affiliation last year, registering as Democrats.

Specter saw a political sea change in his home state. He also was taking grief from Republicans within the state for voting in support of stimulus fund programs that the GOP had hoped to either trim down or redirect to projects that will create jobs and stimulate the economy.

“I am unwilling to have my 29-year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania,” Specter said.

Those last two sentences will be touted by Specter’s new supporters who are either Democrats or independents. But that first sentence about refusing to be judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate is at the root of Specter’s decision.

Specter perceived that he was likely to lose in the GOP primary. He saw that his chances of re-election were better in the Democratic primary.

This wasn’t about party. It is all about Specter’s electability.

East Moline businessman to challenge Hare

Posted by dwilson – April 23, 2009

Bobby Schilling, a business owner from the Quad Cities, has launched a campaign Web site as the first step in his campaign for Congress.

Schilling, a Republican, said the free-spending ways of the Democratic Congress are unpopular with residents of the 17th District. He points to U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, as part of the problem.

“We have a crisis of integrity in Washington, and it’s time to start looking at the facts and elect members of the community who will truly work to secure the future,” Schilling said.

Schilling’s Web site shares information about the candidate, who owns Saint Giuseppe’s Heavenly Pizza in Moline and has a wife and nine children.

One of Schilling’s questions, “… who is going to pay for all of this spending,” hits at the heart of his campaign. It is sure to be a question asked byother candidates in the 2010 campaigns.

Quincy’s proposed water/sewer hike now at 39 percent

Posted by dwilson – April 14, 2009

Quincy aldermen gave first reading to a rate hike for water and sewer rates Monday night, but it wasn’t until Tuesday that the size of the total increase was known.

Kent, David, Also action01

David Kent

Utilities Director David Kent said water fees would go up 25 percent and sewer fees 30 percent when he spoke with reporters Monday night. When Kent sent out follow-up material late Tuesday morning, he included information about a $13.31 meter charge that would be added every three months.

Adding the meter charge to the water and sewer hikes brings the total fee increase to 39 percent.

Under the rate schedule provided by Kent, the average residential customer uses 20 units of water every quarter. The water/sewer fees for that usage has been $65.45. Under the proposed rate and fee structure that same customer would pay $91.11.

In a year the difference would total $102.64 — going from $261.80 now to $364.44.

Kent clearly explained to three journalists that water and sewer rates need to rise because the city is “subsidizing” rate payers to the tune of 17 cents per unit of water and needs higher sewer fees to cover costs as well.

The meter service charge is needed because meters need to be replaced on an ongoing basis, Kent said.

There would typically be two more readings of the rate and fee increase ordinances.

Now that the 39 percent cost increase is out there, look for aldermen to ask tough questions about why meter fees of $53.24 per year need to be added.

3rd Ward Preview: Kyle Moore

Posted by dadam – April 2, 2009

bp532368Age: 28

Political party: Republican

Marital status: Single

Occupation: Vice president, Moore’s Floors.

Political experience: President of the Adams County Young Republicans.

Other interests: Board President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of West-Central Illinois; Big Brother since 1999; board member Right to Life of Adams County; United Way Resource Allocation Team; Exchange Club; and Young Professionals of Quincy.

Top issues:

• Infrastructure: “We need to make sure there is a long-term commitment to infrastructure and not just an election year commitment.”

• Employment: “We need to work on bringing head-of-household jobs to Quincy and helping our current businesses stay competitive in the marketplace.”

• Taxes: “This year we are asking our citizens to pay more than they did last year, no matter what the rate is — this is an increase in taxes.”

3rd Ward Preview: Bob Klingele

Posted by dadam – April 2, 2009

klingele-bobAge: 71

Political party: Democrat

Family: Wife Marjorie, seven children and 12 grandchildren.

Occupation: Retired from job as capital fund coordinator with Quincy Housing Authority.

Political experience: Alderman for 16 years, serving three terms 1991-2003 and 2005-09.

Other interests: Fourth Degree member Knights of Columbus, National Association of Redevelopment Officials, board member Adams County Ambulance Service, board member and treasurer of Quincy Housing Authority.

Top issues:

• Improving infrastructure: “In the last four years the city will have spent more than $1.5 million on sewers streets and sidewalks in the 3rd Ward.”

• Funding: “We have to work to get more money for use for improvement of our infrastructure.”

• Jobs: “My goals are to work to get more good-paying jobs for the citizens of Quincy and work to preserve the jobs we have.”