Block to face Morrissey, Harmon in April
February 24th, 2009 at 10:28pm Chuck Sweeny
As I expected, police union representative Doug Block won Rockford’s Democratic mayoral primary, with 48 percent of the vote. Coming in second with 22 percent was Democratic state central committeeman John Nelson, a perennial Democratic candidate who ran because he and other Democrats don’t think Block is really one of them.
Independent Mayor Larry Morrissey will now face Block and Republican John Harmon in the April 7 election. There’s a Green candidate, too, Jesus Correa VII.
You’d think Morrissey would have the advantage because he has a tested organization and he has fund raising ability. However, the news hasn’t been good in recent months for Morrissey. The hole in Rockford’s budget keeps growing. First it was $7 million. Then $7.5 million. Then $8 million. Now it’s $8.6 million. The lousy economy means people aren’t spending, and that means they’re not paying sales taxes. Housing values are declining, and that affects property tax revenues.
He’s going to have to make extremely unpopular budget cuts. Mayors and governors all over America are having to do the same thing. But that doesn’t make it any easier.
Morrissey’s first term has been fraught with conflict as he sought to change the judicial system, the school system, the police department and public works. He did succeed with public works, but there’s still an uneasy relatioship between rank and file cops and the Morrissey-backed chief, Chet Epperson. Monday’s report on crime in the Forest City didn’t’ help matters: Crime is up, crime is down, the chief reported. It all depends on whose reporting method you use. That’s not what residents want to hear. They want to know if the city is getting safer, or not.
The city should stick to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting method, same as just about every other police department in the USA. It’s the only way to compare how we’re doing with other cities.
Harmon, a veteran in local politics who lost his bid in 2008 to be re-elected to the Winnebago County Board (he got beat in the GOP primary) is at minor leaguer who will not be a serious factor in this race, although he could be a spoiler if there’s a close race between Block and Morrissey.
Block will have to convince voters why they should put the police union in charge of City Hall. That will be a tough sell. And he’ll have to tell us how he will cut nearly $9 million out of the budget without touching the police or fire departments.
Voters should demand minute details, not foamy language about cutting a couple of people out of the mayor’s office.Huge cuts will be needed to balance the budget.
Luckily for Block, the heavy lifting will be done by Morrissey and the current City Council. The budget must be passed by the end of March; the election is April 7.
And then, I’m sure Block will go out and roundly criticize it.
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10 Comments Add your own
1. Bryan | February 25th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I just want to tell you Mr. Sweeny, there is a ton of people in this city that aren\’t goint to vote for Larryboy! He has alienated a huge amount of people in this city. I being one of them. Have you ever tried to do research about Larryboy\’s tif districts? Have you noticed that before and area becomes a tif district, his family\’s real estate company buys up property in that area? Then they use tax payers money to rehab them? I could point out lots more unethical things this mayor has done to line his own pockets and those of his family and friends while he has been mayor! I just cant believe the media in this city sits back and lets him do whatever he wants without any negative press. I strongly believe Larry will not win this next election especially when the public gets wind of all the unappropriate and unethical things this administration has done! It will be coming out very soon but not thanks to your paper! Good day Mr. Sweeny.
2. Drew Williams | February 25th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Larry Morrissey is clearly the lesser of the three evils. We don’t want a former union police chief to represent this city. (but he does have nice myspace page). The only thing he will do is push for higher taxes to pay for increased police pension benefits
Harmon is a flat out scoundrel. He’s the republican candidate through a series of technicalities. He’s a bureaucratic cheat.
Morrissey has his problems, and some questionable associations which Bryan points out above…but the city’s financial problems are not his doing. Chuck makes a good point about crime statistics reporting, but that’s something that can be easily resolved.
Re-elect Morrissey.
3. hokumboy | February 25th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I sent my offer for volunteer work to Doug Block’s campaign early this morning . Although I don’t agree with everything in his platform, I think his views for the workings of our city are in the right direction.
Little Prince Larry must be deposed.
4. echo4charlie | February 25th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Interesting points, and all three conflicting. This election, I think, will be a “Barn Burner” and a close loss for whomever doesn’t get elected.
Yes, the police department is broken. Do we want them running city hall the same way? An embroiled battle between Block (as mayor) and Chief Epperson as they try to run him out of town. However, maybe our police will get the training and equipment that they need to do the job to the best of their abilities, and the crime rate will go down. There is no denying that crime is out of control in Rockford.
Yes, Mayor Morrisey hasn’t lived up to many of his last round of campaign promises, but, is it all him? How about the city council? There is more to Rockford’s lack of progress than the Mayor’s office. And the legal system is making steps forward. The “River District”, however, is not. Nor is the Public School District (205).
Rockford has left so many “broken” things unaddressed that they’ve compounded into an insurmountable “heap”.
In my mind, things narrow down to two candidates: Mayor Morissey and Doug Block.
However, there is, for me, no clear cut best vote. Both bring more negatives to the table than positives.
We don’t just need an overhaul in the Mayoral office. We need an overhaul in the city council if we’re going to improve.
5. whereiscommonsense | February 25th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Drew - The mayor of a city cannot raise taxes simply because he wants to increase police pension benefits. Those are set by state law, and while there is a small tax on property taxes for police and fire pensions, the police and fire contribute to it out of their paychecks, as well as manage the fund that invests the money. I put the maximum towards my 401(k), which my employer then matches, in a system much like the police and fire pension. When Moreforme took over 4 years ago, the city had a surplus. now, after 4 years of him creating do nothing positions at Silly Hall, almost tripling the amount of TIF districts, racking up legal fees because the city refuses to negotiate in good faith (ask Dr. T, the cops, the firefighters, AFSCME, etc…) and also refuses to comply with a judge’s order to release a survey paid for with taxpayer money, etc… That reminds me - what ever happened with releasing the cell phone records asked for on Sunshine day a few years ago? Did those ever come out, or did the almighty RRSTAR just give up so they wouldn’t tick off their golden boy Larry?
I, for one, cannot wait until we have a mayor that is not a lawyer. When was the last time that happened in our fair city?
GO DOUG! All the way to the mayor’s office.
GO Larry! I don’t care where, just go.
6. Joan | February 25th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I love how the retired police officer bloggers (read the police blog and the entry here) who spew hated and name calling (Larryboy being one of them) think they should have an influence on the Rockford election when they don’t even live in this City. Their disrespect and lack of ownership is reprehensible. It is definitely not the City of Rockford they care about. Keep in mind this is the police union and they have their own agenda.
I moved to Rockford 10 years ago. Sometimes people have long term memory problems, so let’s go back to before Mayor Morrissey’s term. There were hoards of prostitutes on 7th St., drug dealers dealing openly on the streets, truancy at all time highs, panhandlers were everywhere, our streets were littered with garbage, and the public works department was a mess. Police response time was poor.
Quality of life has improved under Mayor Morrissey’s term in office. The prostitutes are no longer in full force and you can walk down 7th St. undisturbed. The panhandlers are gone and we can walk our streets without being harassed. Truancy is going down because the Mayor had the guts to take on the School District. Drug dealers are being arrested. Major arrests have been made. Dealers can no longer deal openly like they once did and seeing a drug deal happen is no longer the norm. Police response time has improved. Garbage does not litter our streets as it once did. Neighborhood standards are being enforced. Mayor Morrissey’s reorganized public works department has done a tremendous job. That department also had to deal with two devastating floods and two extremely bad winters that broke records and they did a great job. The Mayor also made sure people, who were devastated by the floods, had City help.
The crime is down from 2006 no matter what reporting system is used. I watched the City Council meeting and no matter if the Police Department uses the UCR-N, UCR-I or NIBRS for reporting, crime is down. That is a fact. All of the reporting systems are FBI reporting systems and Rockford is accredited in all three. All use different types of crimes to focus on, so logically they will come up with different totals. But the final totals of all agree, the crime is down.
Only a real leader has the guts to take on the tough issues. The Mayor makes things happen by confronting those who need to change they way they do things for the betterment of the public, our children, and this City. Change always upsets people until they understand it is for the good of their families and the City. Things have improved during Mayor Morrissey’s term in office and will continue to improve when you elect him to a second term.
Doug Block is an ex-police union leader and has been involved with the union to the present. I want to know where he was when an officer was being defended by the union for viewing hundreds of porn sites while on duty or when an officer was being defended by the union for being paid for time she did not work and when the Police union cost the taxpayers huge sums of money in legal bills defending charges against Chief Epperson that the State of Illinois ruled to be unfounded.
Attend Mayoral debates and forums, and listen and read everything Mr. Block says. This man is not knowledgeable nor does he have the experience to run a city this size. Remember when considering who to vote for, Mr. Block has his own agenda and it is myopic.
7. netwerk7 | February 25th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
“Dealers can no longer deal openly like they once did and seeing a drug deal happen is no longer the norm”
Do you recall the Concord Commons Open-Air Sunday Morning Free Heroin Give-Away?
Prostitutes are still “in force” on 7th Street…reference that fluff piece in the Wall Street Journal On-line
Truancy has declined but who’s to really credit for that?
Police and Fire personnel who do not live in this city still have a vested interest in the betterment of the community…very sad to see you take a cheap shot like that. The choice to live where you want is basic right in America, Morrisey crows the “Rockford Region” should be influenced heavily by the city of Rockford…in that case it should be acceptable for city employees to move to surrounding areas to help influence THAT community to see it the Rockford way
8. Seven | February 25th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Its taken the RRStar well over an hour to “moderate” my post, so I will try and repost it again in full….
“Dealers can no longer deal openly like they once did and seeing a drug deal happen is no longer the norm”
Do you recall the Concord Commons Open-Air Sunday Morning Free Heroin Give-Away?
Prostitutes are still “in force” on 7th Street…reference that fluff piece in the Wall Street Journal On-line
Truancy has declined but who’s to really credit for that?
Police and Fire personnel who do not live in this city still have a vested interest in the betterment of the community…very sad to see you take a cheap shot like that. The choice to live where you want is basic right in America, Morrisey crows the “Rockford Region” should be influenced heavily by the city of Rockford…in that case it should be acceptable for city employees to move to surrounding areas to help influence THAT community to see it the Rockford way (sarcasm)….rather hypocritical in my opinion. Besides for Morriseys re-election hopes, it’s probably in his favor that the Police and Fire are not required to live within the city limits.
The lack of maintance on the roads (crack sealing) has created potholes in numbers never seen in this city.
Police are still being stretched thin…ask an Officer…I’m sure he’ll be glad to enlighten you.
Garbage is about the same in my opinion but it always looks dirty after the snow melts regardless of where you’re at.
I don’t understand how you feel Morrisey has the experience to run the city…he’s insulted, disrespected and alienated almost any group around. Examples being the School Board, Judicial system, home builders, surrounding municipalities (Dist205), ASCHME, Police and Fire rank and file, Citizens of Bradley heights, Citizens against the asphalt plant, any drivers on the city roads, residence of Jane Adams, People morally offended by the lack of accountability in regards to Jim Ryan (Acting Mayor) drunk in a city car parked on the curb, the taxpayers for footing the bill of excessive and baseless use of city legal resources, taxpayers for having to subsidize the 13-14 TIF’s created by Morrisey for the next 23 years. Business owners singled out for action uncontrollable by them, business owners charged for police protection,
Many more I’m sure, these were off the top of my head.
I do have one prediction….that is the demise of the Waterfront when Morrisey and Epperson start demanding they either find private security for the event or pay the City. Non-for-profit doesn’t apply when Morrisey is in the area.
9. echo4charlie | February 26th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
There are a lot of good points, here.
Truth be told, Rockford has become a great place to leave (notice “leave”, and not “live”).
There are a lot of people moving away. Too bad that we can’t be more progressive, like Madison, WI or Columbus, OH (both cities somewhat comparable in size).
We could be. But, this city fights progress tooth and nail, like it is a bad thing…..
10. tony | March 8th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Are you quoting John Nelson Sweeney? You sure talk alot about Larry being the good guy. How many times have they let you off? You say they got public works under control, have you talked to the employees? You dont know everything your talking about. Count potholes filled come on, I can come up with a number everyday and say I filled that many to. Money should not be the reason someone wins but you keep bringing that up. Buy your position, that is sad, when so many of us don’t have jobs but we still pay taxes. I have lived here for 50 years and I believe Rockford can be something like it use to be but this spending for the big boys buddies has to stop, and we need to get our roads fixed. I didnt vote for the tax increase cause I knew Larry would spend the money, see he did. Chuck get a new friend, it might do yourself good.
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