Elm Leaves Editorial: Onayemi in 1st District |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jan 29 2010 |
January 21, 2010
Earlean Collins has served her West Side community for 40 years, both as a state representative and Cook County Board commissioner. We think it's time for a change.
Collins knows the ins and outs of the political systems in the city, county, state and Washington D.C. Her experience has gained her respect on many issues, including her most recent attempts to reform the county penal system, particularly for juveniles.
But she is disengaged from the district's other problems. Her constituents say they never see her or hear from her. Even she acknowledges she's tired and she can't be everywhere. But the ability to juggle the district's diverse responsibilities is what the job requires. We think she would better serve the county as a consultant in which she could devote 100 percent of her time tackling the ills of Cook County Jail.
While the other candidates either have the political clout or they have intensely studied the issues facing the county, one candidate has astutely achieved both. Ade Onayemi of Oak Park is our choice for the 1st District County Board.
A former School District 97 board member who has negotiated union contracts, Onayemi left the board and concentrated on rebuilding the business corridor in the Austin neighborhood where he moved his business.
He was instrumental in reinventing Austin Academy, where he is vice chairman.
An architect who has grown his own business, Onayemi has thoughtful ideas for solving the county's woes: the budget, the health care system, patronage jobs, jail overcrowding. He is committed to serving the entire district from West Side neighborhoods to Oak Park to Maywood and Bellwood.
He said he intends to pick up the torch of reformers like former Commissioner Mike Quigley.
Onayemi served Oak Park well; he proved himself in Austin. We think he'll make a difference in the county too.
We endorse Onayemi for county commissioner.
Read this editorial at the Elm Leaves site
Last changed: Jan 29 2010 at 2:12 PM
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