You didn't build that?

The news has been filled quite a bit with our President's famous quote, "You didn't build that" while campaigning in Virginia.  In a complete reverse of President Reagan's famous lines stating the worst thing a business can hear is, "I'm the government, and I'm here to help," Obama is trying to give government the credit for all successful businesses.  You see, without roads businesses couldn't take their goods to market.  Without teachers you would never have learned the skills needed to achieve.  He of course ignores folks like say Lincoln, Einstein, Gates, etc that were more self taught then schooled, and don't even think about considering parochial schools...

Mr. Obama is simply trying to establish credibility for expanding the welfare state.  Rather than encourage entrepreneurs to take risks and start new ventures, he is attacking them as ungrateful. With a broad stroke he is saying that those who establish successful businesses are just dumb luck.  Dumb luck?  Is that really your belief Mr. President?  What type of message are you sending our children?  Don't work hard, don't achiever more, don't strive to make a change.  Because in the end nothing you do matters.  Everything you accomplish is only realized because someone handed it to you.

While Mr. Obama says we are all taking his message out of context, I think we should all be looking at it for exactly what it is.  A new way of thinking, that flies in the face of everything our nation stands for.

Of course, he wouldn't be President if it weren't for his friend David Axelrod, so maybe he has a point :)

Promise of More Posts

I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to websites, I'm not necessarily the one you should come running to.  My blogging has unfortunately been sub-par through the Primary, but I hope to pick it up a little more this summer, through the election, and throughout my term as your next County Board member.

As a Board member, I pledge to be much more visible in our communities.  I want you all to know that I have an open door policy where I welcome input from the community.  You may even get a call now and then asking for your opinion on an issue before the Board.  While we may not always agree, I want to let everyone know that their opinions are being heard and carefully considered.  Check back here often to find out what is going on in County government.

Odd Man Out

Recently, the Kane County Board held the drawing to determine which districts will have one two year term followed by two consecutive 4 year terms, or a 4 year term followed by a two then 4 year.  The odd numbered districts (like our District 19) received the first breakdown.  What this means is that the 19th will be up for re-election in 2014 and then not again until 2018, and finally in 2022 when the districts are redrawn with new census data.  Whether decided by a draw from a hat or a flip of the coin, the outcome is purely by chance.

While some folks may think drawing the short term in front is a bad thing, personally, I don't mind campaigning, and welcome the opportunity to run again in 2 years.  The people of our district have been so gracious in their support that it has been a true pleasure walking our neighborhoods.  Even our primary opponent has come on board to offer a hand.

I'll see you all this summer as my family and I continue to hit the trail.  Enjoy the recent break in the heat, and God Bless.

How 7 years is a long time...

In 2005, the people of Elgin Township placed their trust in me by giving me a term as Trustee following a very hard fought election.  Over the last seven years, a great deal has changed.  I left my public sector position with the IL House of Representatives in order to pursue a career in the housing industry. I purchased my first home like most young adults at the height of the housing market, and have fought to keep it after the bubble burst.  A few years ago, I married the love of my life.  A month ago, she gave me the great gift of all... a healthy little boy we named Robbie.

With the challenges I've faced have come new perspective on many of life's issues.  One thing that has not changed, however, is my passion for our community.  It's only intensified.  I've now seen first hand how government can decimate a business' ability to create jobs.  I drive through the same communities where I grew up, and see a future for my family.  

A lot has changed in 7 years, but the Kojzarek family remains committed to public service. 

5 Kernels of Corn

Every year the President of our company gathers the entire office together and reads us this story.  He is a great man, and a dear friend.  It's become one of our company most endearing traditions.


Everyone loves Thanksgiving, but do we all know the real meaning behind the holiday?  


On November 11, 1620, the Mayflower dropped anchor in a natural harbor on the inside of the northern tip of Cape Cod. There it stayed. The location was not the Pilgrims’ first choice; they had planned to settle near the mouth of the Hudson.

The area where the ship made landfall had belonged to the Patuxets, a fierce tribe that took intense delight in murdering anyone who would dare invade their territory. A sickness, however, had wiped them out, leaving their land free for the taking. (Other Indians, fearing “bad spirits,” would have no part of it.) The Pilgrims didn’t even have to clear fields for planting. They were alread there for them.

The nearest neighbors were the Wampanoags, a civilized tribe ruled by Massasoit. The chief and his people accepted the Pilgrims and helped them. Squanto, a lone survivor of the Patuxets, made his home with this new inhabitants and taught them how to survive in this new and challenging land.

Although the bounty of the summer of 1621 brought a time of heartfelt gratitude (the first Thanskgiving), the Pilgrims’ obligation to repay the backers who had financed their voyage left them dangerously close to starvation. Food stores had all but disappeared.

At one point, a daily ration of food for a Pilgrim was 5 kernels of corn. With a simple faith that God would sustain them, no matter what, they pulled through. History records that not a single one of them died from starvation that winter. Not a one.

The harvest of 1623 brought a surplus of corn, so much that the Pilgrims were able to help out the Indians for a change. So joyous were they that they celebrated a second Day of Thanksgiving and again invited Massasoit to be their guest.

He came, bringing with him his wife, several other chiefs and 120 braves. All sat down to a feast of 12 venison, 6 goats, 50 hogs and pigs, numerous turkeys, vegtables, grapes, nuts, plums, puddings and pies. But, lest anyone forget, all were given their first course on an empty plate.

They were each given 5 kernels of corn to remember the hard times.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fresh Set of Eyes

Have you ever faced a problem at work where no matter what you did, you simply couldn't solve it?  In my office, we implemented a rule mandating that more than one person must review a mail piece before it goes to press.  The reason is that the author has looked over the piece so many times, he or she simply can't see what may be a glaring typos to a fresh set of eyes.  When my staff is preparing a budget for the coming year, I review each one with them and offer an outside perspective.

Kane County is facing a similar issue.  We have had a lot of long standing incumbents trying to look over the same problems.  This poses difficulty in creating "new" solutions, when many of those involved have been stuck on these problems for over a decade. In the 19th District, I will be replacing an incumbent who has served on the Board for 20 years.  A dear friend and outstanding leader Jackie Tredup will also be retiring from the 22nd District, with Doug Scheflow prepared to carry on her work.  Jeff Meyer is challenging 10 year incumbent Deb Allen in the 17th District.

In 2012, Elgin Township will offer a fresh set of eyes to review the problems facing our county government, and with the new perspective will come new solutions.  While I am hesitant to use the term "change" due to a certain inept President using it for his campaign slogan, let's just say Kane County is ready for a different perspective.  The Elgin Township Republican meeting tonight turned out a great deal of strong candidates that just might offer those fresh set of eyes we so sorely need.

Avoid Distractions

As we continue forth with the campaign season, voters all want two things: Answers and Solutions.  Understandable.  Democracy is all about the educated voter selecting the candidate that best matches his or her own views.  It is without question your duty as a voter to know the issues and make an informed choice.  But what are the issues that matter most in this election?


Without question, the single most important issue in the coming election is the dire state of the economy.  Every single candidate seeking office should be talking about getting people in our community back to work.  We should all be advocating lower taxes, allowing more people to regain control over the money they earned.  From the day I announced my campaign, I promised to freeze the tax levy, while working towards lasting reductions.  


Unfortunately, you are going to see a lot of candidates try to use what are called "wedge" issues, designed solely to form a distinct division among different classes of people and demographics.  Why do they take this tactic?  Well, I suspect because most of these candidates are on the wrong side of the economic policy.  Many are the same folks who supported the failed policies that got us into this mess in the first place.  They want to distract the voters from the important issues, because quite frankly they cannot win on those issues.


We deserve better from our candidates.  We deserve better from our government. Stay focused and on message.