You’d Think There Was an Election Coming Up or Something…

You’d Think There Was an Election Coming Up or Something…

Bongo learned a long time ago that EVERYTHING Larry Snow does has a purpose. From his “deny, deny, deny” tactic over the need for the 2004 referendum (he still denies it was ever needed in spite of the fact everyone else now says the district would be in sad shape without it), to the current very noticeable lack of nastiness… it all has a purpose.

Take last Sunday’s Huntley High School graduation, for example. Snow is in the fourth year of a four-year term. Did he attend graduation his first year? No. His second year? No. His third year? No. But there he was last Sunday; all smiles in front of the crowd, handing out diplomas.

You’d think there was an election coming up or something.

Take the sickeningly-sweet behavior of Snow and Seedorf at board meetings over the last few months. People who Snow used to call liars, political puppets and Chicago-style politicians are now suddenly receiving compliments from Snow. Why, there hasn’t been a complaint about the “evil board majority” from Snow in a while now.

You’d think there was an election coming up or something.

Look at the Snow-Seedorf voting record. Until very recently, Seedorf would always second Snow motions and vice versa, and the two always voted the same way on all issues. In fact a Bongo-review of the first nine months of Seedorf's term showed she voted with Snow on every single issue, and seconded every issue but one of his. Now all of a sudden, we are seeing Snow and Seedorf vote differently on some issues. Not on anything of huge consequence, mind you, but enough so that when accused of running a slate of “rubber stamp candidates” next spring, Snow can point to instances when his gal Seedorf didn’t vote his way.

You’d think there was an election coming up or something.

And what’s with the sharp increase in “abstention” votes by Snow and Seedorf? Lately, every time there is a vote with even a hint of controversy around it, the two abstain rather than go on the record with an opinion. Are they avoiding taking stances on controversial issues?

You’d think there was an election coming up or something.

Lastly, look at how they have now decided they will never approve meeting minutes. Could this be a slick way to position themselves for when their terrible behavior as board members comes back at them during the election period next spring? Are they not approving any minutes at all so they can come back and say, “I didn’t approve those minutes because that wasn’t what really happened”?

You’d think there was an election coming up or something.

Snow is up for reelection in less than a year and Bongo thinks Snow is hoping humans have short memories. But three years of destructive behavior that cost District 158 a very talented Comptroller and a Chief Operations Officer who saved the district a great deal in operational costs can’t be made up for with a transparent attempt to “play nice” in the ninth inning of the game.

Humans need to remember that his tenure has left a trail of destruction and that the “nicey-nice” currently being shown is all part of Snow’s plan to reinvent himself during a year when five seats, including his, are up.

Two of the district’s three top spots are now filled by interim employees because the district is now unable to attract and retain quality personnel. Countless teachers have left District 158 so they can work in less hostile environments. The local newspapers have had a lot of fun at District 158's expense and the district has a reputation for being micromanaged by a school board member who refuses to abide by the state's code of ethics for school board members.

THAT is Snow’s legacy. Not the smiling face people saw at graduation last Sunday.