ERA debate EDITOR: Concerning the ERA debate in the April issue: It is astounding to me to find Mrs. Mulqueeny still parroting that reactionary propaganda on how the ERA is going to breed unisex toilets and sleeping facilities in state institutions and legalize homosexual marriage!!! Especially since those "scare tactic" charges have been repeatedly discredited by responsible spokespersons for the ERA in the public forum. I also find something else very astounding. I believe there is an old adage that says something like this: "Politics makes strange bedfellows." It is no less true in Mrs. Mulqueeny's article since she takes the liberty of quoting a Republican arch-enemy and a main contributor in the downfall of tricky dick, Sam Ervin! Will wonders never cease? Mrs. Mulqueeny's hopes that the ERA be defeated stand a good chance of coming true not because the electorate has become "enlightened" on the dangers of unisex toilets but because of strong conservative backlash and downright reactionaries pressuring state houses already (and historically) dominated by conservative and generally undemocratic forces. Keep up the good work. The ERA is done immeasurable good when you present such exemplary (and idiotic) viewpoints from dogmatized right-wing opponents of the ERA.
John M. Uhlich Property tax reform EDITOR: The Hostetlers' summary of the Illinois property tax situation [March] was pretty comprehensive up to their comments on future reform, but they ignored my proposal for performance standards with failure resulting in a township assessor or a supervisor of assessment being removed from office. Certainly, pre-election qualifications are also needed for township assessor candidates, just as potential supervisors of assessment must pass a state-administered test before becoming qualified for appointment. In addition, both township assessors and supervisors of assessment must be guaranteed sufficient staff and other resources to accomplish their tasks. Nevertheless, I believe no real improvement in assessments throughout Downstate Illinois (i.e., everywhere but Cook County) will occur until Illinois enacts enforceable performance standards with adequate penalties. If Illinois were to enact performance standards for both elected and appointed Downstate assessors, as proposed in House Bill 777, within 20 years, I predict Illinois would have the best real estate assessing system in the world. Why? Because those in the profession would decide that keeping their jobs was more important than paying off past political obligations or building up future political "brownie points." Only a few assessors would have to lose their jobs and have that dismissal upheld in court before most of the profession would conclude that doing a job good enough to meet ever more stringent performance standards was of utmost importance. To the best of my knowledge, mandatory performance standards have been enacted no where else in the world. If you think we ought to try them in Illinois before giving up in despair and junking the real estate tax, a letter to your local state legislators and the governor would be helpful.
State Rep. Cal Skinner, Jr. Primary election results EDITOR: We suggest you would do many of us a favor by publishing Illinois primary returns with the figures in each race, especially for state legislators. Even the Chicago newspapers fail to do this.
Raymond Mostek, Member (We simply don't have space to publish the results, but the State Board of Elections publishes The Official Vote Book for the primary (and other elections). The book is available, free of charge, from the State Board of Elections from either its Chicago office (100 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60602; phone: 312/435-6440) or Springfield office (1020 S. Spring Street, P. O. Box 4187, Springfield, IL 62708; phone: 217 I 782-4141). — The Editors) 32 /June 1978/Illinois Issues
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