The First Amendment of the United States Constitution addresses our Freedom of Speech and, specifically, the right to petition.

Keeping that in mind, why then is Downers Grove Village Commissioner Martin Tully, Mayor pro-tem, so intent upon violating our First Amendment rights?  He is a lawyer who, you would think being schooled in law and a partner in a Chicago law firm, should know and uphold the law.

Consider the fact that on Sunday, June 26, 2005 at Heritage Festival Mary Scalzetti, Director of Tourism and Events for the Village of Downers Grove, approached me while I was petitioning on Main Street and informed me that I was not permitted to petition unless I was at the Downers Grove Watch booth.  (Commissioner Tully is Council Chairman of the Tourism and Events Commission.)

The petition being circulated is for a citizen initiated referendum to ask the voters if they want to cease Home Rule in Downers Grove.  Home Rule allows our Village to impose any tax and increase any tax without voter approval.

On September 27, 2005 Martin Tully approached Andy Clark after the Council meeting to tell him that he did not want Andy to petition when the Coffee with the Council was held at the Farmer’s Market.

This intimidation is unacceptable and not in keeping with the position of an elected citizen representative who should be promoting the citizens’ right to petition, not discouraging citizen participation in the process.

Our Village government should not be behaving in this manner.  Politics does not belong in Village government.  Our efforts to support citizen representation continue.  Good government includes promoting citizen input and responding to citizens’ concerns.

Any citizen who would like to sign the petition and/or help circulate the petition can contact me or another Watch board member.

Laurel Q.  Bowen
Downers Grove
(630) 852-5490

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