RIGHTeous Indignation

The 2010 Alpine Fest Parade is now history and what a glorious day for a parade. The streets were lined with people and Mother Nature cooperated with sunny skies and low humidity.

This year, the folks at the Lake Zurich Lion's Club enacted a change-up with parade rules as they relate to political entries. Their rationale, or so they say, was to limit the size of the parade in order not to have to keep major thorough fares closed for longer than necessary. Political Entries were by invitation only! ELECTED Officials that represented Lake Zurich were allowed to have: themselves, a car, and one passenger to deliver candy. No campaign literatures, No campaign promotional material whatsoever, that is unless they made a $500.00 donation to the Lake Zurich Lion's Club. Candidates for offices that represented Lake Zurich were not invited according to the Lion's Club webpage and Parade Rules found at http://www.lzlions.org/events/alpinefest/paraderules.htm. In addition to these new rules, only one entrant per political party was allowed. The Eight District Dems and Independent followed the rules with a car, driver, passenger and candy as did the Lake County Republican Sheriff, Clerk, Superintendent of Schools and Treasurer with a truck/trailer.

Now who didn't follow the rules???? Well you could say the Ela Township Republicans by virtue of having elected Precinct Committeemen could have been in the parade, but it is what that group did that caught the eye of many parade goers, Lion's Officials and other entrants who followed the rules. The Ela Township Republicans bucked the rules, and moved out of the political entrants staging area (F) and took a spot all the way upfront in (B). OK so home turf, we could let that slide, but wait there is more.....numerous Joe Walsh walkers (remember no walkers this year) showed up and Joe himself snuck in the back way to avoid the check-in process. Why...because as a candidate, he wasn't invited. Did Joe donate $500.00 to the Lion's Club.....only his D2s will tell, but given his history for paying up. Eye doubts it! But wait there is more...Diane Winter, Candidate for the 5th Sub-Circuit Court and currently an appointed judge (not for Lake Zurich) and now seeking election as a Republican Judge completely blew off the rules. She showed up with campaign signs, handed out campaign balloons and certainly, had no car, but a cute wagon and more than permitted amount of walkers which you remember is none! Her D2s will also be checked for a $500 dollar donation to the Lake Zurich Lion's Club.

The Parade Coordinator was questioned about all of these rule breakers and their response was "They know the rules, I can't make them abide by them"

So it appears that the "Rules Don't Apply to Me" mentality have taken a front row in the vision for these two Republican Candidates, one of whom is deeply entrenched in the Tea Party.

Another observation, the Walsh Walkers are just plain rude. We understand we have differences, but these supporters want to jam their views down your throat. Save it for the Walsh rallies not public parades that are meant for family.

Now should this Eye Blogger hear back from any of these campaigns, saying they were 'invited" by the Lake Zurich Lion's Club, then a public apology will be issued and we will look at a violation of one of the "core purposes" of the Lion's Club of not engaging in partisan politics. The Eye knows many candidates up for election in November who were not invited to this parade.