Election Endorsements: Students should elect Redmer, Green and pass referendum

Staff Editorial
With local elections coming on April 7, the Observer would like to endorse candidates for the election of two trustees to the ECC Board of Trustees. Four candidates are running for the seats: encumbant Bob Getz, Robin Lisboa, Richard Green and Dr. Donna Schuring-Redmer.

Green, an Elgin resident and a graduate of ECC, served the school for 30 years as an automotive professor, and is now a part-time student. There is no reason he should be limited to this role in our college.

As a trustee, students can expect Green to bring his three decades of hands-on experience with students and faculty to the table as a factor in his decision making. Being a student at the college will also bring a students perspective to the boardroom. Green has also expressed concern over college affordability and has supported working with state legislators and pursuing grants to help lower tuition.

Dr. Redmer is also a fine choice to represent the community in the Board.

Redmer, a retired teacher with a doctorate in Educational Leadership, graduated from ECC with an Associate degree in 1976, and is currently involved with Kane County’s Office of Education Support, as well as Dundee-Crown High School’s restructuring plan. Redmer not only worked in education as both a teacher and adminstrator, but is a co-owner of a family business.

Both Redmer and Green support the passing of the $178 million bond referendum, also on the ballot on April 7, and stress the need to renovate the library with the money, should the referendum pass.

This sentiment is undoubtedly representative of much of the student body and faculty. Our library is insufficiently funded and entirely too small. As Dr. Sam said at ECC’s Founder’s Brunch, our library is smaller than many high school libraries.

Also on the list of changes expected if the referendum passes, are a new health careers center, a library and learning center, public safety training facilities for the region, a new multipurpose classroom center and a renovation for the Student Resources Center, which outdates any other building on campus.

And while the referendum will result in a small tax increase, about $23 dollars for taxpayers with $200,000 in property, the tax level will still be lower than they were in 2003.

Our community colleges supposed to be partially funded by taxpayers in an effort to provide quality, affordable education to those very same taxpayers. There is no reason we, as students, should pass on the improvements we will surely see with the passing of the referendum, only because we want to save a few dollars a month.