Plainfield Park District Debacle

To those that know me, they have been waiting for this moment for a long time.  And those that don't, let me introduce myself.  My name is Joe Kordik and I live in what I affectionately refer to as Jofield.  For the last 6 years, I have been the elected Republican Committeeman for Plainfield 25.  And for the last 8 plus years, I have been a member of the Plainfield Township Republican Organization.

People who know me know that sometimes I speak from the heart instead of letting my brain "catch up."  I will tell you exactly how I think; like it or not.  For years, members of the PTRO would ask me to calm down because my viewpoints might hurt our Republican candidates.  But my passion could have never done the damage that Peck, Hurtado, Steinys and Silosky have done in the last 8 months.

In 2007, I received a foursome to Tom Cross' annual golf outing.  My guests were Garrett Peck, Mike Brann (former PPD board member) and his neighbor Jim.  One of the foursome proceeded to over indulge of the alcoholic beverages that were provided.  For the final 10 holes, we kept that person in the golf cart trying to keep him from embarrassing himself even further because he wanted to run for Plainfield Trustee.  If I knew then what I know now, I would of allowed him to continue to drink because we would probably not been in the predicament we are in now. 

When a website came on line a couple of years ago call Open the Books, I was both amazed and angered by the salaries being paid to employees of the Plainfield Park Districthttp://www.openthebooks.com/search/?PensionCode=1&F_imrfempnm=&F_imrfemployernm=Plainfield%20Twp%20P...ther   You can check out the salaried of the PPD by going to this site:

http://www.openthebooks.com/search/?PensionCode=1&F_imrfempnm=&F_imrfemployernm=Plainfield%20Twp%20P...

Now those figures are only good thru 2012.  I could not understand how the executive director of the Park District's salary had more than doubled in 11 years.  I was extremely upset with the board because of the cost of salaries and benefits.  And with the hiring of a new executive director, I feared that the board would not be good stewards of our tax dollars.  When some who wanted to run had their petitions challenged, it should have been a sign.

But after the new board members were seated and the decision to hire Peck was approved, you could see what was about to happen.  Garrett was very involved in getting other candidates to drop off the ballot threw his challenges and I know that he supported both Steinys and Silosky.  Hurtado kept screaming about the PPD wasting our taxpayer dollars and hinted at something being wrong.  That's all it took for him to get Peck into the Executive Director chair.  So after 8 months, have we as taxpayers seen that there was malfeasance in the park district? NO.  What we have seen has been a purging of existing employees and political hires made in their place.  What Peck and Hurtado are doing is straight out of the Chicago Democratic playbook.  Tell me again about Booth being a Public Relations guy and how qualified he is.  With what we pay him plus paying for classes makes me shake my head.  Sometimes you can even see the hand in the back of his head making his lips move.  Is this Hurtado's payback back because Booth worked on his failed State Senate campaign?  Perception is everything.  Never saw a posting for the position he holds.  What were the requirements, educational background and work history needed for this position?  Who conducted the interview and who were the other candidates?  Same goes for the Executive Director position.

From what I have heard and read, meetings are a dog and pony show with Peck pulling all the strings.  When the matter of the lease with St. John's Church came up for a vote, and Peck was in Germany enjoying himself, Silosky actually thought for herself and voted against Hurtado.  You know that the first call after the meeting was to give Peck a call to let him know that someone thought for themselves and the betterment of the community.  Wasn't it amazing that Janet had a change of heart at the next meeting and voted the way she was told?

The Executive Director likes to complain about all the Freedom of Information Act request calling them a burden on the taxpayer.  But when Peck ran for office, FOIA's were one of his tools to get back at a political opponent.  He didn't like the taste of his own medicine and proceeds to call those responsible out and call them radicals.

Now, he doesn't believe that the Patch is fair and balanced with their reporting and monitoring of their comment section.  So he wants to take his bat and ball and go home.  You believe that you are helping the Park District in all of your actions but what you are really doing is showing that you're nothing but a little man with "short guy" syndrome.  You know, where you might not be a big guy but you have to show how smart and rich you are  and how much better you are then anyone else.  You padded your political resume by stating you were an Air Force veteran.  Yes technically you can say that but that is about all you can do.  You joined the Knights of Columbus to also further your political aspirations.  But threw your actions, a political career is but a memory.

From what I am told, the contract that you had written for the job of Executive director is so "iron clad" that it is impossible to break unless you resign.  Oh, the PPD can fire you but then are on the hook for the remainder of your contract.  If you think there is another contract in the future, you are even crazier than I thought you might be.  Larry will be re elected come next March and both Mary and Peter are up 2 years after that.  Peter has dug his grave, so I would make it 1000 to 1 for him to be re elected.  The majority will be against you.  So enjoy that car allowance, pay classes and insurance, because before you know it, it will be GONE!

As I stated at the beginning, these are my opinions.  We as an electorate need to be vigilant when it comes to voting.  When you step in the voting booth, you have to be prepared and ask yourself, "Who will do the best for me and my community?"  You have to stop voting only because a candidate has an R or a D by their name.  Even though I am a Republican precinct committeeman that doesn't mean I vote a straight Republican ticket.  Be informed and get out and vote.

The actions of Peck, Hutado, Steinys and Silosky do not represent the PTRO.  The PTRO has let the "Plainfield Four" know in no uncertain terms that we do not agree with their actions.  But our objections have fallen on deaf ears.  What they have done has given the PTRO a black eye.  For that, I apologize.  We work to get our candidates elected who believe in smaller government, lower taxes and restoring our constitution.  The four mentioned above are out for themselves and I personally believe that Peck is out for himself.  What would make it better is for the "Plainfield Four" to just resign.  But with them all be narcissists, that's not about to happen.  So be vigilant and continue to hammer them every opportunity you get.  Maybe, just maybe they will do the right thing and resign.

Respectfully,

Joe Kordik
Plainfield Township 25th Precinct
Republican Committeeman