BE FAIR
I see on the neighborhood social media sites where young mothers are getting their utilities shut off because they can’t afford the skyrocketing bills (“Debt forgiveness becomes a campaign issue,” March 23). They are asking for help in paying them.
My granddaughter is one of them. She has a two-bedroom house and her utility bills are over $300 per month. We had to put the electric in my name so they would turn it back on. Why isn’t the mayor forgiving their debts? Who do they need to contact?
Connie Sebok
Springfield
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
Bill McCarty is running independently for city treasurer on his impeccable credentials and character in public service (“Money and experience,” March 23). That is the opposite of a back-room bargained candidate launched from party headquarters on an assumption party faithful are obligated to support her without hesitation.
McCarty is educated and experienced in public finance, has been Springfield’s budget director under successive mayors from different parties and has been a mayor himself. During his tenure and by his recommendations and guidance, Springfield’s budget has improved from disaster to stability.
Party insiders are sponsoring and suspiciously overfunding the daughter of another public office addict (“Who’s Paying? Who Knows?,” March 21). It is a blatant attempt to buy nepotism, or worse, another family election dynasty dependent upon name recognition rather than substance.
Descendants and siblings whose primary credentials are family connections and insider favoritism are always unwise choices by party leaders. More importantly, political inbreeding is unhealthy for the rest of us.
Bill McCarty is the best qualified and most honorable candidate on the entire ballot. Voters should always reward top-shelf credentials over name dropping.
John Levalley
Springfield
NOT QUALIFIED
Interesting – Colleen Redpath Feger is the treasurer for her dad’s campaign fund, but doesn’t know when they donate $6,000 to another political action committee? She doesn’t sound qualified to be the city’s treasurer.
Travis Hamlin
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
SHOW ME THE MONEY
Another example of dark money entering a local race. Ms. Feger should either come out and publicly ask the ads be pulled immediately, or she fully knows where the money came from. As a voter, I am very turned off by how Ms. Feger has handled this matter.
Larry Acton
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
GOOD MAYOR
I think Jim Langfelder has done an outstanding job as mayor (“A genuine, nice guy,” March 23). Having no layoffs or furloughs through a pandemic says a lot for leadership. He built up the general fund to its highest level in the city’s history and continues to push for equity throughout the city.
Not sure what people think they are going to get if Misty Buscher is elected. I will be voting for Mayor Langfelder.
Pat Holcomb
CORREX
The March 23 article, “Money and experience,” incorrectly stated that Mayor Jim Langfelder endorsed William McCarty for city treasurer. Former mayor Mike Houston endorsed McCarty. Langfelder made no endorsement in the race.
This article appears in A ‘Rogue’ Scientist’s Legacy.
