Editor's Pick: Why did Kenilworth’s Home Rule Referendum Fail?

Inadequate public education? Fear of higher taxes? Or outright opposition?

Why did Kenilworth’s Home Rule Referendum Fail?

Inadequate public education? Fear of higher taxes? Or outright opposition?

Six weeks ago, Kenilworth residents made their way to the polling place, stepped into the booth and voted down the village’s home rule referendum. But what caused 61.8 percent of the 1,382 voters to issue a decisive no to a proposed change billed as a potential solution to Kenilworth’s mounting infrastructure woes? Kenilworth Village President Fred G. Steingraber said he thinks poor timing, insufficient village communication and residents’ fears of higher property taxes are mostly to blame. Had the measure passed, the village would have assumed various taxing, zoning and licensing powers that had previously fallen to the state. More importantly, according to Steingraber, the newfound capabilities would have been used to help finance an …

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David Greenberg

6:50 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

How about an ordinance to implement term limits for all elected officials. Then if someone happens to get an increase through, it can be undone w/o worrying about whether a career politician will connive to prevent the repeal. In the meantime, kudos to the 61% of the voters who chose to wisely limit the power of their Government.   more ›

Kenilworth Home Rule Referendum Fails

The referendum would have shifted some decision-making abilities from the state to the local level by making the village a “home rule unit”.

FINAL UPDATE AT 8:53 p.m.: The Kenilworth's home rule referendum has been voted down with more than three in five Kenilworth voters casting "no" ballots for the measure. The referendum would have moved some taxing, zoning and licensing powers from the state to the local level by making the village a “home rule unit”. Did you vote "no" for the referendum? If so, take a moment to write in our comments section and tell us why. UPDATED AT 8:16 p.m.: Though both precincts are reporting, this one isn't called yet. As of now, the "no" votes lead by 326 votes and 23 percentage points. RESULTS (UPDATED AS THEY COME IN TUESDAY NIGHT): UPDATED AT 7:49 p.m.: It seems about two out of every three Kenilworth residents voted no on the home rule …

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