Loading ...Ray Semplinski for Crest Hill Mayor
For a complete look at the Crest Hill election, read My Endorsements for Tuesday’s Election.
Ray Semplinski for Mayor
Four years ago Crest Hill voters ended the 20 year career of Mayor Don Randich by sweeping Nick Churnovic into office. Churnovic had seized upon resident’s disillusionment with Randich’s leadership. The city’s budget was in the red, its water and sewer infrastructure was crumbling, and the mayor brushed aside even the most legitimate constituent’s plea.
As Mayor Churnovic prepares to file papers today seeking his second term, Crest Hill residents are asking themselves how anything has changed. The city has a $1-million budget deficit, the water and sewer system has hobbled along without major repair, and Mayor Churnovic’s contempt for residents rivals that once flaunted by Randich himself.
Today I am announcing my support for Ray Semplinski for Mayor (Website). Rather than write my endorsement in the closing days of the campaign as is my practice, I choose to make my pick known now.
Ray Semplinski brings to Crest Hill the institutional knowledge one can only learn from on the job training. For nearly 30 years, Semplinski was the city’s director of public works. Before he resigned that position three years ago, a resignation borne out of a philosophical difference with Churnovic’s leadership; Semplinski also worked double-shift as the city’s building inspector.
Regardless of the inter-personal relationships the two men have, there is little question that Semplinski wants to be Mayor for reasons other than just being Mayor. Semplinski believes Crest Hill has missed economic opportunities during Churnovic’s term. Weber Road remains a work in progress because the city took the cheap way out at every step of the Menard’s development. As a result, the city has few viable commercial options. Churnovic now believes residential development is the better path.
On water and sewer infrastructure, Semplinski believes the city can repair and modernize the long-neglected system without asking voters to issue a bond. For years, the city has subsidized residential water bills by setting aside repairs or inflation-adjusted rate increases. As a result, the Gaylord Road treatment plant operates at about 40-percent capacity today. The entire system treats more storm water run-off than flushing toilets, and as a result, residents are now bearing those costs.
Semplinski’s plan combines responsible depreciation budgeting with a special assessment in areas of the city where repairs are needed most. In the short term, our water bills should remain level until the more efficient system begins to treat more flushing toilets than storm water. Afterwards, our rates should only increase along with the rate of inflation. Personally, I was prepared to support a bond to improve the water supply. Semplinski’s approach appears more responsible.
Finally, I am supporting Ray Semplinski for Mayor because of something that neither Randich nor Churnovic have done: treat residents decently and respectfully. Like many Crest Hill residents, I have stood at the podium in the council chamber seeking support for my neighborhood. Like many residents, I have been treated rudely by elected officials and city staff alike. There is no reason anyone should be humiliated when making a comment, petitioning for a variance, or asking the city to explain an action.
In all of the years that I have known Ray; he has treated me with respect. We may not have agreed on the topic at hand, but Ray was always professional and responsive. I have little doubt that he will treat my neighbors the same way he has treated me.
I invite you to join me in supporting Ray Semplinski for Mayor.
Neal Sternisha for Ward III Alderman
In 2006, the city council reapportioned ward boundaries to accommodate residential growth in the west side. By doing so, the newly drawn Ward III had no representation on the city council. Mayor Churnovic appointed Tina Oberlin and Diane Brandolino, and they were un-opposed in their election in 2007.
When the city council increased water rates last summer, water bills in Fox Meadow shot up as much as 350-percent over the previous year’s reading. We took this issue to the city council, asked our Alderwomen for support, and were told to go home. Both Oberlin and Brandolino refused to help, and Ward III residents should return the favor as each of them face re-election.
Alderwoman Brandolino’s term expires in 2009, and she is seeking re-election. I am supporting Neal Sternisha for Alderman (Website). Neal is a chemical engineer, and has managed million-dollar projects for Fortune 500 companies in the Netherlands and Singapore. Neal grew up in Crest Hill, and has returned to his hometown to help make it a better place for everyone.
Here are other articles I have written on this topic:
6 Responses to “Ray Semplinski for Crest Hill Mayor”
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SEMPLINSKI IS NOT THE ANSWER…HE WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM!!! WHY DIDNT HE FIX THE FAILING WATER/SEWER SYSTEM WHEN HE RAN THAT DEPARTMENT?
HE CAUSED MANY HARDSHIPS TO THE CITIZENS DOING PROJECTS AT THEIR HOMES.
HE CAUSED MANY CONTRACTORS TO REFUSE WORK IN THE CITY BECAUSE THEY DIDNT WANT TO DEAL WITH SEMPLINSKI AND HIS EGO.
HIS DOUBLE DUTY ALSO INCLUDED DOUBLE PAY!! WHILE HE SAT IN THE OFFICES PLANNING HIS NEXT GIRLFRIEND/WIFE AND MAKING UP NEW WORDS TO BE ADDED TO WEBSTERS DICTIONARY.
RAY SOLIMAN IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR MAYOR THAT HAS THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS AT HEART.
Thank you for your comment.
In response to the comment above, I would like to know how Ray Semplinski’s personal life has effected you? I didn’t know that having a girlfriend/wife would have any connections with contractors trying to weezel through inspections with the bare minimun or lack there of just to save a few extra dollars. So if you call wanting homes and buildings built to code for a safer stucture an ego problem, than I guess the bigger the ego the better. I always thought that codes and guidelines were established for everyone to follow, not just a select few. I’m aware that politics are all about shots below the belt but with all of that aside the only questions and comments you should have should be ones that would be beneficial to the development and improvements of city. I’m prepared to put my trust in Ray Semplinski. I feel he can pull the city out of the hole it sank into regardless of his personal decisions. I want what’s best for Crest Hill and have all reason to believe Ray Semplinski will be the answer.
I agree with much of what CJR is trying to say. Given all of the problems that many homeowners in the area have had with their new homes and inferior building practices, I cannot connect Ray’s past strict building code enforcement with simple egotism. It does seem as though Mr./Ms. (?) Crust Hole may have had some negative interaction with Ray Semplinski that seems to result in typing in CAPS only without much to substantiate a true argument.
I am currently planning to vote for Ray Semplinski for the various ways I know he has helped the Crest Hill community and school system, which does not seem to be matched by Ray Soliman. I would be very eager to know exactly what the Ray Soliman has done that makes him more qualified for the position of Mayor of Crest Hill. As of now, I have only heard from his supporters that he is the better choice, but have been given no evidence of this. I await an enlightmentment.
Until then, Regards.
We support Ray 100%. We had an addition put on our home and had to apply for a zoning variance. We had to deal with so much including Stateville prison coming to our home. Ray was extremely helpful every step of the way. He went above and beyond to help. As you have said Ray is very proffessional and extermely polite. I’ve attended several city meetings and unfortunately with a small child we cannot attend regularly, but I do watch the meetings on tv. I was surprised at our current mayors tantrums. I’d like him to know I’m one of the residents who live along Stateville farm and yes I am happy he didn’t get his hands on that property. He was clearly upset and acted like a three year old because he didn’t get the farmland. That land would sit undeveloped just like the industrial park along Division and Gaylord. We believe in Ray and he will definetly be receiving our votes come April 7th. We think he can turn things around for our community and make it a better place to live. A city we can be proud of. Not just a city of vacant strip malls and unused land. It’s time to rebuild the peoples trust in our city.