Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 52

8 Section 2 Chicago Tribune, Thursday, October 9, 1986 Citysuburbs State cash shortage mirrors '82 crisis, Burris says By Dave Schneidman and Robert Davis State Comptroller Roland Burns said. Wednesday, that state spending outpaced revenues by $94 million during the first quarter of the current fiscal year and warned that Illinois could face a "cash flow calamity" if Gov. James does not act quickly. At a news conference, Burris said the condition of the state's general fund the main fund used for operation of the government is "shockingly similar" to what it was preceding the largest tax increase in state history at the end of 1982. Thompson has said consistently that no tax increase will be necessary this fiscal year.

Burris, a Democrat running for re-election, denied that his comments were political or were meant to help Adlai Stevenson, Thompson's opponent in the November election. "That's what they said when I warned of a similar situation in 1982," Burris said. "And what happened? The state had to borrow $200 million to keep from going broke and then had to raise taxes." Burns said the balance in the general fund account now stands at $154 million, well below the $200 million figure considered a safe reserve balance. He added that "the daily balance has been well below that $200 million mark for 21 of the last 27 working days, the longest the balance has dragged below the $200 million mark since 1983." Burris called on Thompson to seek immediately legislative authority to transfer money from "other funds into the general fund to facilitate cash flow and to guarantee that the state will be able to pay its November bills. Such a move has been dope only twice before in recent history in 1982 and 1983.

Burris said one fund from which money could be transferred is the state road fund. Robert Mandeville, director of the governor's Bureau of the Budget, denied Bums' allegation that the general fund is in bad shape and said it is not necessary to transfer money from other funds. Mandeville also denied that Burris predicted the 1982-83 crisis He said reporters "should demand; that Burris document his statements which he was supposed to have made before the crisis. He decried the problem after the fact only." Also, Mandeville denied that the balance of the general fund stands at $154 million. "Burris' own figures show that the balance stands at $189 million," Mandeville said.

"That is below the $200 million figure, but state funds are a seasonal thing. The state is hard hit in October and November, and again in February, but revenue has a tendency to rise during December and June, and July. Mandeville said the Thompson administration already is cutting an estimated $350 million from the budget. I Badge a gleam in politician's eye Races turn bitter as sheriffs' responsibilities increase Selection '06 who fly planes and helicopters during searches. The department recently entered into a contract to provide a sheriffs department' squad car to patrol the Village of Riverwoods, an affluent town of 2,800 population that has no police force.

Babcox notes that many such small communities have formed in Lake County over the last two decades. And with urban crime now reaching into these areas, town leaders are looking for police protection. "I think that is the new wave of the future," said Babcox. In Cook County, the race pitting incumbent Richard J. Elrod, 52, a Democrat, against former Chicago Police Supt James O'Grady, 57, a Democrat turned Republican? has beeh bitter verbal battle for control of the nation's second-largest department, with an annual budget of more than $113 million.

In June, two top-ranking officials of the vice unit were convicted in federal court on charges of extortion and bribery for protecting suburban prostitution operations. "The scandals have rocked his department for 16 years," O'Grady said. Elrod angrily contends that the scandals that have occurred during his tenure are no different than the problems O'Grady encountered when he headed the police department Kane County Sheriff George Kramer lost the Republican nomination in the March primary. The department abounds with morale problems. And the department's starting salary for deputies is one, of the lowest in the Chicago area, say the candidates vying for the job.

F. John Randall, 59, a lieutenant oh the force and a Republican, is pitted against Democratic challenger Neal W. Lippold, 39, a criminal justice instructor at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. "We're going to improve services without increasing the budget," said Randall, who wants to see more manpower patrolling the county's 540 square miles. But Lippold, the former Sugar Grove police chief and 5-year employee of the state Department of Corrections, says it is time for the voters to name an administrator to the post He thinks the traditionally Republican Kane County constituents are willing to elect a Democrat be- cause "time and time again you hear of problems in the sheriffs office," he said.

In August, Kane County deputies, whose starting salary is $16,200 a year, picketed the county board over its refusal to allow them to vote on whether to join a union. Lippold argues that the salaries must be restructured to boost the starting pay so the county's best recruits don't look elsewhere for jobs. Like Babcox, Du Page County Sheriff Richard Paul Doha, 59, of Winfield, has the political advantage of running as a Republican in the predominantly GOP county. Doria, seeking his third, four-year stint as sheriff, faces Kenneth D. Fields, 50, of Naperville, a security guard who has done little campaigning.

By Ray Gibson When Henry B. Steele became Lake County first elected sheriff, all he had was a badge, a six-shooter, a horse and 454 square miles of mostly farmland to protect Some 150 years later, Steele's modern-day counterpart still might tote a gun, but the similarities end there. Today's sheriff is a high-tech administrator whose equipment includes electronic bracelets keep track of prisoners. He oversees hundreds of workers, a modem jail, a special marine patrol and a $6 million budget, and he protects 109,000 residents in unincorporated areas that rapidly are becoming urbanized. In part because of the growing roles played by sheriffs in several northern Illinois counties, com-, bined with old-fashioned politics, the job is attracting attention in the upcoming Nov.

4 elections. Some of the sheriff's races in the five-county area surrounding Chicago are developing into the most vitriolic of the countywide campaigns. In Cook County, the sheriffs race has been filled with charges of corruption in the department's vice unit; in Kane County, disgruntled deputies have picketed the sheriffs offices; and in Will County, there are reports that deputies are driving squad cars ready for the junk yard. In Illinois a sheriff can be responsible for everything from running a jail to serving legal papers in civil lawsuits and from operating crime laboratories to providing janitorial services for county buildings. Those responsibilities come on top of what officials say has been an increase in the number of calls for police protection from the unincorporated areas where sheriff units patrol.

In some cases, crime rates in those areas are on the rise. In Will County, the retirement of Sheriff John Shelley, a Republican, has sparked a hotly contested race between two deputies, Republican John Johnsen and Democrat Ikey Liken Johnsen, 42, is a lieutenant making his second attempt for the post, after an unsuccessful 1978 bid against Shelley. He also is a Lockport alderman and a 19-year veteran of the department. Liker, 37, of Shorewood, has srjent 15 years on the force as a deputy and lost to Shelley in 1982 by less than 1 percent of the vote. The campaign has boiled down to who can do the best job of lifting the department's sagging morale.

Departmental feuding with the county board has brought on tough financial times and resulted in deputies driving squad cars some view as a safety hazard. Iker estimates that 20 department cars have more than 120,000 miles and that on many "you can push your finger through the rust." Shelley's car, however, is a Cadillac seized by deputies as part of a drug raid. His use of the car, as well as the use of other vehicles seized in drug arrests, is one issue in the campaign. Johnsen and Iker vow they would not use the luxury car. Johnsen maintains that the merit commission has all but eliminated politics in the office, but Iker disagrees.

He points to two studies on departmental hiring and promotional practices that conclude morale problems may be affected by departmental politics. Both candidates are calling for a reorganization of the sheriffs police patrols to better serve the growing populations in the unincorporated areas mat are spread over the county's 846 square miles. Iker contends that more urban-type crime is coming to unincorporated areas, even though state statistics show the crime rate decreasing. "We are now experiencing all facets of violent crime during the 24-hour period," he maintains. In Lake County, Democratic challenger Sander P.

Stagman is trying to wrest control of the post from Republican Robert "Mickey" Babcox, one of the county's top vote-getters who is seeking a second term. Stagman has accused Babcox of everything but causing Lake County's recent flooding. In a county where Republicans usually sweep most countywide races, Babcox, 58, of Grayslake, isn't worried about the accusations. "I don't pay any attention to the charges," said the former coroner who served in that post 18 years. "I'm running on my record." Stagman, 43, of Highland Park, is a Chicago tax accountant who says he is a graduate of the Cook County Sheriffs Academy and a student of criminology at Roosevelt University.

He charges that Babcox runs the office like a Southern sheriff, making "Lake County known as the Macon, of the North." He has accused Babcox of botching the coroner's investigation into the 1981 death of 28-year-old Kentucky Derby veterinarian Janice Runkle, who Stagman believes was a murder victim. "That shows how much he knows," said Bab-. cox. "A coroner's jury ruled it was a suicide." Babcox contends that Stagman has fudged his credentials. He says Stagman has gone only to a training classes for Cook County bailiffs and that Stagman can't be studying criminology, as he claims, because Roosevelt University offers no such degree.

Roosevelt said that it does not offer a degree in criminology but that it does offer a degree in sociology in which a student can concentrate in criminology. The winner in Lake County will head a de-' partment that the county's first sheriff, Steele, wouldn't recognize. The 300-member force, which includes full-time and part-time deputies, operates a 168-bed jail, and 163 deputies patrol the streets, provide Bailiff service for courtrooms and serve legal papers. The county has one of the few sheriffs department marine units, protecting boaters on the Chain-O-Lakes and Lake Michigan. It has a canine unit, snow mobile patrol and deputies Trlbun photo by Val Mazzengjf Union president Norman Swenson left joins about 100 picketing Thornton College teachers outside the County Building Wednesday.

Teacher strike cut short in 2 suburbs Mayor's ally Volini won't run in '87 cuss the strike. In the bitter Thornton strike, which has prompted cancellation of classes for about 9,000 students, teachers and college officials have not met since Saturday. School officials continued Wednesday to interview substitutes, whom they plan to use to re-open the campus Oct. 27. Thornton officials have rejected the teachers' offer to arbitrate only economic issues while allowing all unresolved issues to revert to the previous contract, which expired July 31.

College officials want to end the strike by arbitrating all unresolved terms. As a show of their frustration over the lenghty strike, about 100 Thornton teachers picketed outside the County Building for about three hours Wednesday. The target of their protest was Cook County Clerk Stanley T. Kusper, chief negotiator for the Thornton board of trustees a job he assumed because his law firm represents the college. The teachers were joined by.

striking Chicago Tribune produc-; tion workers and Trans World Airlines flight attendants The strikers did not encounter Kusper, who "walked out the other side of the building," said Jim Flynn, president of the Thornton faculty association. Kusper said picketing aimed at him is pointless and detracts from the issues in the strike. "It isnt Stanley Kusper that's the problem here," he said. The teachers' re- Suest for raises is unreasonable in te face' of Thornton's projected $340,000 deficit this year, Kusper said. By Rob Karwath A tentative agreement ended a half-day strike by teachers and staff of Highwood-Highland Park Elementary School District 111 Wednesday, but it didn't come early enough to prevent the cancellation of classes for about 1,200 students from the two northern suburbs.

Classes in the district's two elementary schools and one junior high school are scheduled to resume Thursday. After an all-night negotiation session, the 130 striking teachers and school workers reached a tentative settlement with school officials at about 1 1 a.m., said Phyllis Gold, assistant to the superintendent. Neither side will discuss terms of the agreement until the contract is ratified by the teachers and approved by the school board. Meanwhile Wednesday, strikes continued at Proviso Township High School District schools in Maywood and Hillside and Thornton Community College in South Holland. Thornton teachers also took to the streets around the County Building in Chicago to protest the lack of negotiation sessions in strike, which enters its sixth week Friday.

I The Proviso strike by about 300 began Oct. 1 and has canceled classes for about 5,000 students at Proviso East High School in Maywood and Proviso West High School in Hillside. Bob Peickert, teachers union representative, said negotiations with school officials may be set Friday. The Proviso school board meets Thursday and is expected to dis 1 i I hi I By Manuel Galvan Aid. Marion Volini 48th, a lakefront ally of Mayor Harold Washington who has sometimes perplexed his supporters by voting against him, formally announced Wednesday that she will not seek re-election to the Chicago City Council.

Volini's decision fueled speculation about whether Washington, if re-elected, would retain political control of the new council to be seated next year and triggered a flurry of potential candidates for her post "I have decided that I will not seek another term as alderman of the 48th Ward. I will have served nearly nine years when my current term ends," Volini said at a City Hall press conference, in which she elaborated on statements she made Tuesday night about not seeking re-election. "Now it's time for a new voice to be heard." Volini said she would consider a position in the private sector or a governmental appointment. She also said she would not rule out another run for a political office, but she said she had no such plans at present "When I was first elected, I vowed to represent all the people in our diverse community," Volini said. "Every ethnic, racial, religious, economic and cultural group can be found here.

No one person can claim ownership of the office that most closely touches the lives of such a diversity of people." Volini said she would eventually endorse a candidate for the Feb. 24 race, after discussions over a variety of issues. Volini is the second lakefront alderman from the mayor's camp to decline a run for re-election. In Aid. Martin Oberman 43d said he would not seek another term.

Like Oberman, Volini came under criticism for supporting a record $79.9 million property tax increase to balance the city's budget for this year. And like Oberman, she denied that the controversial vote had caused her to pull out. "I fought three tough battles to be elected. I'm a survivor and I would win again," Volini said. "I'm not leaving because I don't think I can win.

I'm leaving to let others in." Alton Miller, the mayor's press secretary, said Washington was "sorry she's dropping out" As to losing his allies, Washington said, "They're great but there are a lot more Obermans and Volinis." Of all the 50 aldcrmanic races, the lakefront wards are shaping up as pivotal for control of the council. With Volini and Oberman not running, the two ward elections become horse races. A loss of one ward by Washington could gjve the anti-administration council bloc a 26-24 edge. As of Wednesday, three candidates said they would seek the 48th Ward seat: Jane McDougall, a political maverick and North Side bar owner; Eliot Gould, a businessman; and Brendan Clan-cey, a grocery manager. At least three other potential candidates were said Jo be considering bids.

Inmate again sentenced to die Henry Brisbon, convicted in connection with the murder of a couple along Int. Hwy. 57 in 1973, has again been sentenced to death for the 1978 fatal stabbing of a fellow inmate at the Stateville Correctional Center, near Joliet. A Will County jury took 70 minutes to return the death sentence late Tuesday. The jury had been hearing arguments since Sept.

29 in the re-sentencing, called for after the state Supreme Court last year reversed the death sentence Brisbon received in 1982 for killing the inmate. "This is an incredibly evil person," Will County State's Atty. Ed Petka said. "The death sentence is what he deserves." Brisbon, 30, was convicted of murdering Richard Morgan with a sharpened spoon while both were at Stateville in 1978. At the time.

Brisbon was serving a sentence of 1,000 to 3,000 years for killing a young Chicago couple on 1-57 near Country Club Hills. He also was convicted on a conspiracy charge in the 1977 slaying of a 29-year-old Darien woman on 1-57. In both cases, police said, Brisbon rammed his car into the cars of his victims, then killed them with a shotgun when they pulled over to the side of the road. Trlbun photo by Ooorg Thompson Aid. Marlon Volini 48th faces reporters In City Hall Wednesday as she announces she will not seek re-election..