The Hon. Frank Lesko, candidate for City Council (Ward 4), outlined his experience and campaign platform during a visit to the University of Illinois at Springfield campus on Monday, March 5, 2007. During his visit with students, Mr. Lesko, who serves as Sangamon County's highway manager and as a member of the Springfield Park Board, called for increased police patrols, a more focused snow removal effort, and improvements to a library on the north end of Springfield.
He said that he would look to cut waste in order to fund these proposals. Regarding smoking bans, Mr. Lesko expressed support for exempting Knights of Columbus facilities and other fraternal organizations' facilities from the bans, but stated that the city-wide smoking ban issue should be decided directly by the voters, through ballot proposition.
During his speech, he emphasized his fiscal conservatism by citing an instance in which he asked for an adjustment to a restaurant tab when he was overcharged by a small amount. Although some might call him "tight" for contesting a minor error, he said, he wanted to make sure that the bill was accurate.
Mr. Lesko noted that earlier in his career, after he became aware of space limitations affecting the Funshop program, a parent/child play program in Springfield, he helped to obtain additional space for the program. The dedicated space prevents the program's organizers from being forced to unpack and repack play equipment after each session, he noted.
First-year UIS student Nico Echols, a disability rights activist and former "Resident of the Month" for the university's dormitory, was impressed by Mr. Lesko's appearance, especially after speaking to him about issues involving people with disabilities. She volunteered to walk for his entry, in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Mr. Lesko was introduced by UIS junior Kate Johnson, who had just come from the Men's Basketball Championship game, where she had sung the National Anthem, and served on the cheerleading squad. While most students who attended the game had gone out to celebrate, following the major victory for the UIS Prairie Stars (their second AMC Championship in a row), Miss Johnson was glad to have participated in the Lesko event. Despite it being held immediately after the game, and on the first day of Midterms Week at the university, turnout was strong, for this speech. Many of those students in attendance volunteered to assist with Frank Lesko's general election campaign.
Lesko won 10 of the 14 precincts in Ward 4 in the Tuesday, February 27 primary election.
Report by Brian Bartoz, graduate student of Political Studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield