WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES...

JEFF MORDEN- July, 2012

Jeff Morden
·         Age:  41
·         Occupation:  Truck Driver (Non-union)
·         Married - AnneMarie
·         22102 Brookwood Drive (Bel Aire Subdivision)
·         Homeowner/Renter:    Homeowner
·         Property Taxes Paid:  $3,128.08 per year
·         14 year resident
·         First Elected: April, 2013
·         Term in office Expires:  2015
·         Candidate in 2015: likely (not declared)

By Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE |  It has been one year now since freshmen Village Trustees Jeffrey Morden and Lynda Allen-Washington-House were sworn-into office to serve the people of Sauk Village.  Let’s take a look back at what the “candidates” said during the election and what they have done since taking office.

Morden’s mantra was “Putting People before Politics”.  If the “people” are the politicians Morden
was referring to, he has been doing a outstanding job!  He has marched in parades with politicians in Chicago, Richton Park, Crete and Chicago Heights helping out politicians and the last two years Sauk Village has hosted more politicians in their Independence Day parade than you can shake a stick at.

Prior to running for office in 2013, Morden volunteered working with Marva Campbell-Pruit’s Beautification Committee from 2011-2012, helped out former Trustee Robert Chavez in 2011 on the Parks and Recreation Committee and served on Edward Myers’ Ordinance Review Committee.  Morden got involved with Village politics in 2008 and volunteered to help out former Mayor Lewis Towers and his slate of candidates including Village Clerk Debbie Williams, Village Trustees Rosie Williams, Myers  
and Enoch Benson, who ran together on Towers’ slate.
Let’s take a look back to the 2013 election and see where we have come.  Morden ran on the People’s Unity Party slate along with fellow Trustee Edward Myers, the other only victor of the party slate, for a two-year unexpired term on the Village Board.

Morden said during the election:

“Each day I will work harder than the last, making sure we bring positive changes into our community”.  Morden chairs the Beautification Committee and many residents have been asking where are the “positive changes” Morden had spoken about during the election, some pointing to the Village Hall and the condition of the lawn or the shrubs as an example?

“Bringing back ‘Pride and Progress’ is first and foremost at the top of my agenda list” Morden said during the election.   

“Secondly, is doing my part to ensure that all residents have clean and safe drinking water at all times” Morden said during the election.  To date the village has been under a Consent Order by the Attorney General Lisa Madigan to install permanent Air Strippers.   

“Third, is focusing on the infrastructure of the village:  roads, fire hydrants, street lights and water and sewer lines” Morden said during the election.  To date the village has only repaired roads under its routine Motor Fuel Tax maintenance program, only 18 fire hydrants have been replaced of the 63 that do not work, 180+ Buffalo Boxes (water shut offs) cannot be shut off to homes with delinquent bills.

Lastly, helping facilitate more transparency and fiscal responsibility from our local government” Morden said in his candidate statement to Cook County.  Morden has consistently voted along with Mayor David Hanks with only two exceptions.  Morden asks very few questions of any substance during debate and prior to voting on matters leaving the residents of Sauk Village uninformed about what is actually taking place.  During Morden’s time on the village board the Village has not approved their budget on time as the fiscal year ended April 31, 2014 and the Village still has no budget.

Consensus voting lacks transparency as the vote is not taken and robust debate is nonexistent.  If Morden truly wanted transparency, he would demand that a public debate on maters be held.  He would help explain what is being voted on and why he votes the way he does.  Morden votes yes on virtually all matters brought before the Village Board.  Residents need to begin asking  Morden, how are the actions you take, as a Village Board, “transparent” when it lacks an open, honest and robust debate?

Morden had token opposition in the 2013 race making him a “logical” choice at that time to some small minded people and yet to others there was really no other choice. Morden, who is white, had two African-American candidates who were vying for the position.  Morden won with just 51% of the vote last year with virtual unknown candidates Helen Washington splitting the vote with Hope Moody.  Morden’s still received the highest number of votes in the Trustee election.  Morden concluded his candidate statement with the following:  “We cannot afford to get this wrong again”, the question to the residents is did you?

Several attempts to contact Morden for a formal interview were made, however, Morden did not respond to any attempts.

I’m disappointed that I was not able to interview Jeffrey Morden.  Jeff is a good guy and is a hard worker, lack of direction and leadership of this administration have inhibited this Trustee from truly working to his fullest potential.  I wish Trustee Morden well through the next year.  There are many tough questions that need to be asked and I wanted to give Morden the opportunity to answer them.  While some may find this article "critical" is formulated with my point of view and many residents whom I have spoken with over the last year with respect to this Trustee.  I would have preferred to have Morden's view point on matters instead of an editorialized version, unfortunately, that did not happen and history will be told.  Perhaps we can sometime in the future! 

 NEXT UP… Lynda Allen-Washington-House; Ed Myers and Rosie Williams