Election Day - coming up

In two weeks voters in McHenry County will go to the polls for the primary election. What can you do to effect change in the way law enforcement in McHenry County is conducted?

Are you, the taxpayers, ready to spring for a new building for the sheriff's department? Remember; it was only recently that millions of dollars were spent to increase the size of the jail. Now the incumbent sheriff wants to move out of that facility and build a new monument. Just say NO.

Are you sick of the number of lawsuits against the sheriff's department and the huge legal bills that you don't even hear about?

Should you hear about serious disciplinary cases within the department? They can be buried right now, as long as the discipline is not more than 30 days. Anything over 30 days has to go to the (rubber-stamp) Sheriff's Department Merit Commission, where it becomes public record, thanks to the Open Meetings Act. Not that the public will know about it, if the press doesn't cover it.

Just how effective, economical and cost-efficient is the take-home squad car program? Has any deputy ever been called out after-hours and been needed to respond in his squad car? How many times do you see a squad car parked at a deputy's home during days off or vacations? How many squad cars does the Department own? Of them how many are "take-home" squad cars? Do deputies ever make traffic stops while off-duty, when they are driving to the grocery store?

On February 2, take back control and exercise your right to choose change, not more of the same. Choose fresh ideas, not more of the same. Choose transparency, not secrecy. Choose improved morale, not fear and intimidation. Choose respect, not degradation.

Vote for Zane Seipler on the Republican primary ballot.

And forward this to every voter in McHenry County. Use the little white envelope at the bottom of this article.