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News-Gazette Letter to the Editor, Wednesday, February 15, 2006 Wysocki Shows How Leader Should Work For the first time in my long memory, Champaign County has a county board chairwoman, Barbara Wysocki, who has worked actively to make the board work for all citizens, irrespective of political party. A Democrat, Wysocki bridged political boundaries and established collaborative relationships with board Republicans, in order to accomplish goals that she believes are right. For this effort, for choosing to run for chairwoman without the blessing of fellow Democrats who wanted to re-elect the previous chairwoman and for allowing herself to be elected by a cross-party coalition, she is being condemned. I should note that Wysocki ran only after the former chairwoman, Patricia Avery, indicated that she would not be a candidate, only to change her mind. Wysocki's leadership has been a refreshing change from past administrations of both parties, which for too long governed the county solely along party lines. Past partisan bickering has been a real detriment to effective functioning of the board. Wysocki has shown how a leader should work – with harmony and cooperation. Now there is a move among some Dump-Wysocki Democrats to return to party politics as the way to do county business. This is contrary to the Democrats' long-term stated goal of not operating like their Republican predecessors. Is it not obvious that, given the Democrats' slim majority, they should embrace a good government agenda? If they cannot, they risk a return to a Republican-dominated board. Isn't it far better for Democrats to model a less acrimonious and more efficient and effective approach to governance? Ideally, the county board chairman should be elected at large by popular vote. While majority board vote falls short of this ideal, it represents a step away from the partisan attitudes that have negatively affected the county for decades. It's far better for the majority party to demonstrate how county government can and should work. DANNEL McCOLLUM
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