Disregard for Seniors?

It has been suggested by some that my vote as an Orland Township Trustee to cancel the townships lease with the Secretary of State/DMV was born of callous disregard for township seniors. This is ludicrous on its face.

At 70 years of age, I am the oldest elected official in the township branch of government. It was, in point of fact, a vote that was made in the interest of senior public safety. The DMV had outgrown the building, and crowded parking conditions, combined with the large number of seniors contending with those conditions, prompted my decision to vote as I did.

My vote today would be no different than it was on the night the lease was canceled. It was an intentional political risk taken by me in the interest of others, and my own personal safety concerns.

I regret the levels of animosity my decision has generated for my board colleagues. A no vote cast by me would have kept the lease alive through 2030. But I remain convinced the clearly provocative action taken by the board will yield a larger, safer DMV location within Orland Township.