FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 28, 2008
Contact:
Dan Kennison
815.263.2727
Kennison Calls on Walsh to Step Down as Will County Liquor Commissioner
Joliet, Illinois...
Dan Kennison, challenger to incumbent Will County Executive Larry Walsh
in the November general election, issued the following statement in
response to Mr. Walsh's arrest by Will County Sheriff's police 10 days
ago on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and his
subsequent statements and actions since that arrest:
I have not spoken about Mr. Walsh's arrest since it happened because I wanted to give him the opportunity to do the right thing relative to his terrible lapse in judgment (for which he has publicly apologized).
Instead, since he effectively admitted he was in error--a point highlighted by the results of his Breathalyzer test--Mr. Walsh has been widely complaining to county employees and local media that he was "set up". I am not quite sure how Mr. Walsh rationalizes that statement but it is embarrassing for him to attempt to offload the responsibility for his DUI arrest.
Additionally, both he and his surrogates have sought to trivialize this matter.
DUI is a serious charge. Through education and tougher law enforcement, Illinois has been able to substantially reduce alcohol-related traffic fatalities in recent years. However, it remains the case that hundreds of Illinois residents die each year as the result of alcohol-related recklessness on our ro ads.
I am thankful that Mr. Walsh was not hurt and that he did not hurt another motorist or pedestrian but his actions as the county's top elected official require more than an apology.
Thus, I am today calling on Larry Walsh to demonstrate the leadership we expect from our Will County Executive by resigning his paid post as the county's Liquor Control Commissioner as a consequence of his DUI arrest.
Please note that I am not calling on him to resign his post as County Executive, particularly since he has not yet had his day in court. But Mr. Walsh's moral authority as Liquor Control Commissioner, a position incidental to the job of County Executive, is clearly compromised by his DUI arrest.
If Mr. Walsh resigns as the county's Liquor Control Commissioner then he will have at least sent an important signal to Will County families that he understands that, as the county's top elected official, there is a heightened standard of conduct to which he must adh ere and substantive consequences to which he must submit when he fails to do so.
4 comments on Kennison Calls on Walsh to Step Down as Will County Liquor Commissioner
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Well, he is the liquor control commissioner! Guess he just couldn't resist sampling the goods!
lol!
4/30/2008
Kennison Calls on Walsh to Donate Liquor Commissioner Salary to MADD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Contact:
Kennison Calls on Walsh to Donate Liquor Commissioner Salary to MADD Joliet, Illinois... In response to Will County Executive Larry Walsh's statements yesterday that he would not accede to challenger Dan Kennison's call that he resign his post as the county's Liquor Control Commissioner in the wake of his arrest for driving under the influence (DUI), Kennison issued the following statement today:Dan Kennison
815.727.4003
It is unfortunate that Mr. Walsh, like so many politicians in this state, does not understand the difference between statutory authority and moral authority.
A leader such as a county executive loses his legitimacy to govern when his actions do not comport with the law. I do not want Will County run like Mr. Walsh's friends run Cook County or the State of Illinois, where the people's will is routinely discarded if not outright ignored.
DUI is not a trivial matter for anyone, but particularly for a person entrusted with enforcement of liquor laws in Will County. I take Mr. Walsh's apology for his poor judgment at face value, but more is required.
Mr. Walsh needs to, by action, send a signal to Will County families that he understands the severity of the charge he faces subsequent to his DUI arrest. Mr. Walsh needs to take such action to demonstrate that he is interested in restoring the trust that he has broken.
If he will not resign his post as the county's Liquor Control Commissioner, then I am calling today on Mr. Walsh to donate the salary he receives for that position of approximately $10,000 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) or another worthy public/traffic safety non-profit of his choosing.
###4/30/2008
Kennison Calls on Walsh to Donate Liquor Commissioner Salary to MADD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Contact:
Kennison Calls on Walsh to Donate Liquor Commissioner Salary to MADD Joliet, Illinois... In response to Will County Executive Larry Walsh's statements yesterday that he would not accede to challenger Dan Kennison's call that he resign his post as the county's Liquor Control Commissioner in the wake of his arrest for driving under the influence (DUI), Kennison issued the following statement today:Dan Kennison
815.727.4003
It is unfortunate that Mr. Walsh, like so many politicians in this state, does not understand the difference between statutory authority and moral authority.
A leader such as a county executive loses his legitimacy to govern when his actions do not comport with the law. I do not want Will County run like Mr. Walsh's friends run Cook County or the State of Illinois, where the people's will is routinely discarded if not outright ignored.
DUI is not a trivial matter for anyone, but particularly for a person entrusted with enforcement of liquor laws in Will County. I take Mr. Walsh's apology for his poor judgment at face value, but more is required.
Mr. Walsh needs to, by action, send a signal to Will County families that he understands the severity of the charge he faces subsequent to his DUI arrest. Mr. Walsh needs to take such action to demonstrate that he is interested in restoring the trust that he has broken.
If he will not resign his post as the county's Liquor Control Commissioner, then I am calling today on Mr. Walsh to donate the salary he receives for that position of approximately $10,000 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) or another worthy public/traffic safety non-profit of his choosing.
###
Thanks, Dan! I was going to make a new post of the most recent call, whihc, btw, cracks me up!