By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – The Normal Town Council’s most senior member is deeply troubled by what he said were misleading and reckless tactics employed by a candidate who nearly unseated the town’s three-term incumbent Mayor.
The sky is not falling, according to council member Jeff Fritzen, who took the unusual step of calling a news conference to defend the handling of town finances and other policies.
“I want to reassure the citizens of Normal that its town, its council, and its staff is managing our finances well.” said Fritzen.
He did not mention Mayoral challenger Marc Tiritilli by name, but he said the campaign confused voters and damaged Normal’s brand. He claimed Normal has a manageable debt load…noting the town’s favorable AAA bond rating. Use of tax increment financing and other economic development tools, said Fritzen, helped fuel private investment that otherwise would not have occurred.
“Our debt is not out of control, that we utilize development tools available to us, whether it be incentives, or (tax increment financing, or things of that nature. We use them selectively and prudently, and apply them where it benefits us,” Fritzen also said.
He boasted Normal’s property tax rate is lowest among comparable Central Illinois communities, and he said Tiritilli unnecessarily scared town employees they might not receive their pensions.
Tiritilli is expected to request a discovery recount after a final count showed him 11 votes behind incumbent Chris Koos. Fritzen’s comments won the applause of top staff and current and former council members, who were in attendance. Koos did not attend today’s (Wednesday’s) news conference. Less than 200 votes separated Koos and Fritzen in the 2005 mayor’s race. Fritzen endorsed his former opponent against Tiritilli.
Speaking with WJBC’s Sam Wood, Tiritilli said he was surprised by Fritzen’s comments, and he wonders why the council member is speaking out now rather than before the election. Tiritilli says the views he expressed were based on budget data supplied by the town government.
Tiritilli expects to request a recount after a final count showed 11 votes behind incumbent Chris Koos.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
