Saturday, December 18, 2010

Democrats Use County Governmenrt Position to Try to Force Asphalt Pavers to Unionize

Back last winter, the Democrat controlled County Board made a disguised effort to force Peoria County pavers to be unionized. Democrats Tom O'Neill, Board Chairman, Allan Mayer and Mike Phelan led the drive. Republican Brian Elsasser led the opposition in preventing this attack on the non-union pavers.

In April, Tom O'Neill had Elsasser replaced by a Democrat on the Tri-County Planning Commission allegedly at the recommendation of Mike Phelan, new Chairman of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission. The new appointee lives in the Heights as does PHelan.

This commission is made up of 7 Democrats.

When the appointments to the counties Standing Committees were made public, Elsasser was appointed to only one committee, (later he was put on the Health Committee) Judicial and taken off the Land Use committee. Elsasser is a prominent farmer in the the Princeville area. Elsasser also began to ask questions about the escalating cost of a property tax supported ($3,200,000.00 in 2009) new Bel-Wood which was unanimously supported by the Democrats.

Interesting is that Republican Stephan Morris, an attorney, who originally was opposed to the museum but changed his mind and was later appointed as Chairman of the Museum Standing Committee, was appointed to chair the Land Use committee.

Also, Bob Baeitto who in April announced he was interested in running for the County board chair and who stood with the pavers, was replaced as Chairman of Judicial by Democrat Andrew Rand. The Democrats have complete control of the county and in the last two years have increasingly thrown their weight around.

Some are up for election in 2012.

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