2009 Oreana Summer Park Program

Ok, many people have recently heard that the Oreana Summer Park Program was cancelled.

This is simply not true.  At a specially scheduled meeting on 12 May 2009, the Oreana Village Board of Trustees approved the funding by a vote of 4-2 (Trustees Ballard, Fogerson, Hiser and Lewis voted in favor of the program while Trustees Johnson and Ward voted against it). A tentative schedule of activities for the month of June is (or will be) posted on www.LightnerForMayor.com for easy access.

A flyer will be coming home this week with your child detailing some of our fun events.

Yes, we will be bringing back the art lessons for all of you moms that enjoyed those so much.  We also are having 4-H come out and do an awesome mini camp on two Mondays (June 15th and June 22nd) for a mere $3.00 per session.  Girl Scouts will be out on Wednesdays with Fun Summer Safety.  Preschool Story Hour will be on that day as well.   we are excited that all of these special presentations are coming to us!  As always, we also have a few field trips planned.  White t-shirts with the Park Program logo will be available later in the month to tye dye!

Sign ups will be starting this Saturday, May 16 from 1-3pm at the Oreana Library.  If you have any questions please call 468-2658 (my home number) or email me through the website.  We look forward to seeing you at the park this year!

2009 Consolidated Election Results

Let's spend a little time analyzing the results from yesterday's consolidated election.  What results surprised you and, more importantly, why did the result surprise you?  You should feel free to comment on any contested race but I will focus my comments on the Oreana mayoral contest.  Let's start by announcing the results and then looking at some math behind the numbers:

Daniel M. Lightner 178  (67.4%)

Steven Ryan 86  (32.6%)

A total of 267 ballots were cast in this race, but 178 votes for Lightner plus 86 votes for Ryan equals 264 total votes.  

What happened?  It's officially called an undervote.  An undervote is when a voter chooses neither candidate in a particular race.  This happened 3 times in this contest...3 voters could / did not choose between Lightner and Ryan.  I have a few theories, based upon private conversations I had prior to the election, explaining the identity of these three voters.  Those conversations will remain private however. 

This also happened in the Village of Oreana Clerk's race this year.  Even though only one candidate was running for the position and a win was guaranteed, 56 voters chose not to cast a vote in that contest. Anyway, A voter can theoretically cast a blank ballot without voting for any candidate whatsoever.  The official voting records maintained by the Macon County Clerk will still show the individual voted in an election, but obviously no votes would be added to any candidate's tally.

Back to the 267 ballots cast within the Village of Oreana.  This translates into a 43.3% voter turnout as there were 617 registered and eligible voters.  This a great turnout for a consolidated election.  Typically consolidated elections run around 20-30%.  We should all be proud of ourselves for exercising our right to vote!

Election Day is Here!

Well, today is election day.  It represents an end of our campaigns and the beginning of our community's future.  I appreciate the efforts some of you have made on my behalf this election cycle.  I am also hopeful that some of you who do not support me continue to be active in our community.  I suggest that participation is not only a right, but is the duty of all residents.

I hope you take it upon yourself to exercise your right to vote.  Polls are open from 6 am to 7 pm today in Oreana Park.

In the 2005 election cycle, a total of 125 votes were cast for the position of Village of Oreana Mayor.  In the 2001 election cycle, a total of 289 votes were cast for the position of Village of Oreana Mayor.  Let's see how today's election compares...(Keep in mind the following updates regarding the number of ballots cast includes those ballots for the Village of Oreana election AND the Whitmore Township election as the polling places were combined several years ago.)..

My mistake...these votes include the number of ballots cast for the Village of Oreana election only, not the Whitmore Township election as I previously stated....

UPDATE #1:  9:30 am - sources say that 63 ballots have been cast.

UPDATE #2:  10:30 am - sources say that 91 ballots have been cast.

UPDATE #3:  12:30 pm - sources say that 147 ballots have been cast.

UPDATE #4:  5:30 pm - sources say that 249 ballots have been cast.

UPDATE #5:  7:00 pm - sources say that 295 paper ballots have been cast.

Get Out and Vote!

I wanted to first thank you for the support you have given my re-election campaign thus far.  I also wanted to let you know where I stand and what I am thinking at this point.  I am getting excited and a little nervous at the same time.  Most people I speak to during the campaign state that I have nothing to worry about.  That is a little comforting but also a little worrisome.  It is comforting to know that I have so much support.  It is worrisome because this could indicate complacency on the part of some supporters.  They may not feel the need to go vote on April 7, 2009. 

There is approximately one week left before the April 7, 2009 municipal elections.  ONE WEEK!!!  I wanted to encourage you to call some of your friends and neighbors who live in Oreana to let them know you support Lightner for Mayor.  Tell them that voting on April 7, 2009 is IMPORTANT.  Let them know that elections are not about websites, not about postcard mailings, and not about yard signs.  ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT VOTING!!!  We can put up as many yard signs as we want, but only your vote and the votes of your friends and neighbors can elect Lightner to a third term.  This is extremely basic but extremely important.

As I previously stated I never take elections for granted and I always campaign like I am 5 points behind in the polls.  I will continue to personally ask residents for their support because I do not want to wake up the day after the election feeling as if I should have done more to get people to the polls.  I'm certain that you don't either.  Please take a few moments this week to phone your friends and neighbors about your support for Lightner for Mayor and the importance of voting.

Thank you once again...see you at the polls on April 7, 2009!

Signs of Progress?

Yes, the pun is intended. Last week I noticed that my opponent moved several of his signs out of the right-of-way. I thought that maybe, just maybe, he took it upon himself to learn the regulations concerning rights-of-way. I was hopeful.

Upon further investigation, however, he did not educate himself. He simply found a few private land owners willing to place one of his sings in their yard. Several other signs remain in the public road right-of-way. I was disappointed.

I guess I should consider this minor development to be progress?

Oreana Sewer System Bid Opening

As I stated in a previous post, the date and time of bid opening for the Oreana Sewer Collection System has been delayed.  This delay gives the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency time to establish their interanl rules and proceedures for using the federal stimulus dollars.  Oreana will realize an overall 25% decrease in the amount of debt incurred to construct this sanitary sewer system.  That amounts to approximately $1 million!  

The date and time for bid opening is now 10:00 A.M. on May 6, 2009.

My Opponent Supports Me!

Interesting.  My opponent mails a flier to Oreana residents in which he introduces himself and lists a few issues he would like to address if elected.  This is, in general, a good idea.  I have also sent a few mailings listing the accomplishments of the Lightner administration.  His flier is interesting, though, because he seems to support everything the Lightner administration is already accomplishing.  He lists no new issues or ideas.  The flier states he would like to work on

-growth of the village,

-cost to taxpayers,

-drinking water upgrades,

-city sewer upgrades,

-law enforcement upgrades,

-street and city appearance upgrades.

So, if I understand this correctly, my opponent supports me?  I'm OK with that.

Unaware or Arrogant?

Tuesday, 11 March 2009

It apparently did not work.  My opponent put up more campaign signs yesterday.  Several of those newly placed signs are in the right-of-way as were his previous signs.  Some of his previous signs have been moved away from the road just a bit but are still in the right-of-way.  

I will give my opponent the benefit of the doubt because it is my nature.  I don't think he is arrogant enough to publicly and purposefully do what he knows to be wrong.  I believe my opponent is unaware as to what a right-of-way is and the regulations concerning them.  Either way, however, it frightens me that an individual who is unaware of the law or arrogant enough to defy it wants to become our Mayor!

Talk amongst yourselves.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs!

Sunday, 9 March 2009

I had a nice conversation with my opponent this afternoon regarding the placement of his campaign signs.  I advised him that several, but not all, of his signs appear to be placed on public road right-of-way and should be moved.  Campaign signs should only be placed on private property.  

I believe that placing campaign signs on public road right-of-way shows a lack of respect for public safety.  As I stated in a previous Diary entry, those signs can interfere with a driver's field of vision.  To quote an Oreana resident who has complained to me about this issue:

“My guess is that he's done it out of "ignorance of the law" rather than purposely. Either way, it is a (1) safety issue and (2) a precedent that I don't want to see started in the village -- candidates loading up their signs on ground which should not (and can not) be used for campaigning.”

I agree 100%.  The difficulty in addressing this issue is that I, as a sitting Mayor who is currently seeking re-election, will undoubtedly appear as if I am picking on my opponent. 

If I make him remove his signs from public right-of-way the argument could be made that I am using my position as Mayor to disadvantage his campaign.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, that allegation could only be true if I placed my signs in the right-of-way while prohibiting my opponent from doing the same.  I will remind everyone that my signs are placed on private property with permission of the landowner. 

We'll see if he chooses to move them or not.  I think he will.

this just in...sewer update - 27 February 2009

Bid opening for the Oreana Sewer project is being delayed for 60 days.  Contrary to what your initial reaction may be this is great news.  If we delay the project by 60 days we will receive a 25% grant from the federal stimulus package!  That's right, 25% grant!

This means the cost of the project is reduced and the amount of debt repayment rolled into our monthly user charges can be reduced as well.  More explanation will be forthcomming as details emerge...stay tuned.