As you looked over Tuesday`s ballot, did you wonder why we don`t eliminate some elective offices and make them appointive? The ballot is much too long.
The county sheriff is equal to a police chief. Police chiefs are always appointed. Why not appoint the sheriff?
Why do we elect an assessor? When I was city manager of Lebanon, N.H., from 1954 to 1960, I appointed a three-person Board of Assessors as required under the charter. It`s a professional job.
Why do we elect a secretary of state? That person sells license plates and gives driver tests. Isn`t that administrative? Can`t that be done by the appointed head of a Department of Motor Vehicles?
And the clerk of the Circuit Court. Why must that person be elected?
For policy-elect.
For administration-appoint.
What policies does the clerk of the Circuit Court formulate?
Finally, why is the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District a separate government with nine elected commissioners? Why not make it a department under the Cook County government?
We need to streamline and shorten a too-long ballot.
