Vote TODAY for Bob Kirchner and Lisa Bell, Champaign County Board, Dist. 9
Polls are open until 7pm tonight
- find your polling place (some have changed this year!)
- check your registration status
- call 328-0547 if you need a ride to the polls
- still undecided? compare the candidates
On March 21st, District 9 residents will have an opportunity to change the future of Champaign County government. As County Board members, Bob Kirchner and Lisa Bell will work to represent the issues that District 9 Democrats care about. Issues such as racial equity, open government, protection of the environment, and equitable road funding are not being adequately addressed by the district's current representatives. Bob and Lisa have stepped forward to campaign for these and other Democratic principles. They are asking for your vote in the Democratic Primary on March 21st, 2006.
In the spirit of open government and public accountability, the issues they will focus on include:
Racial Equity
After years of watching every County building contract go to non-minority firms, Bob Kirchner and other Democrats on the board approved a contract for a racial disparity study aimed at providing guidance towards solving the issue. However, before the contract could be signed, district 9's current representatives took control of the board and killed the study. Bob and Lisa will work to restore the racial disparity study and correct the inequities in county contracts. Read more →
Opposing Efforts to Spend Up to $30 Million on Unnecessary Jail Expansion
Discussions are underway on whether the County should expand
the jail. Bob and Lisa do not support current efforts to spend
up to $30 million on an unnecessary jail expansion project.
Further, despite the enormous
cost and importance of this issue, District 9's current
representatives recommended against appointment of a
Board committee to study the issue in public in favor of
a Judge-appointed committee which meets in private. To date
Wysocki has not appointed
a board committee, and Beckett has
publicly stated support for a new jail project.
Bob and Lisa are calling
for more transparency and accountability
in County government, and will work to ensure the County Board
and the public
is a part of all important policy decisions.
Read more →
Fair Funding of Important County Roads
The County has a long-standing agreement with the cities of Urbana and Champaign to fund improvements of "fringe roads" like Curtis Road in exchange for sales taxes. These roads, which are vital to Urbana's future growth, are under County jurisdiction. District 9's current representatives voted to violate this agreement by capping funding for these roads. Bob and Lisa believe it's important to honor intergovernmental agreements, and recognize the importance of these roads to the future growth and tax base of the city of Urbana. Read more →
Read about these and other issues on our
issues page
.
Also visit our "Compare the Candidates"
page.