The list of people I feel sorry for is long. It includes not just all of the people I know personally who are suffering from one misfortune or another, the millions around the world who are having a rougher time than they ought: Japanese earthquake victims, our soldiers risking their lives on foreign soil, ect. Then there’s the supplemental list, which includes everyone from Cub fans who have been waiting over 100 years for a World Series title, to the guy in the middle seat on a long flight.
But one person who doesn’t make the list is Deborah Birutis.
And yet Ms. Birutis seems eager for people to know she feels aggrieved. All of a sudden, she’s had a few “hot mic” incidents in which she vented her displeasure about various alleged insults.
Ms. Birutis let it be known she feels frustrated by always being second guessed by residents and the newly elected trustees.
She sneaks off for extended vacations without telling anyone outside her inner-circle. One can only assume she feels the need to take a break from being village president.
None of this is entirely new. Ms. Birutis has always had a gift for self-pity. And blame-shifting. “It’s past administration’s fault” could be emblazoned over the name plate on her office door.
And from the outset, Ms. Birutis has had little patience with critics. Serious critiques are always illegitimate “talking points.” She has made it clear she doesn’t want to hear “a lot of talking” from the people who didn’t agree with her. The time for debate always seems to be over when it’s clear to everyone that she’s losing the argument. During village board meetings, she loves to whine about the impertinence of Winfield 411 and Trustee Allen.
I can’t prove it, but I’m also hardly alone in thinking Ms. Birutis really just doesn’t like the job anymore. She’s testier. Her response to Trustees Reyes and Allen’s initiatives for the town are not merely dishonest and hypocritical, they are bitterly personal.
One can understand her frustration. The woman who once said to a room full of residents while running for village president in 2009, “I also have a plan to rebuild our roads, unlike the other candidates who say they just need one.” The overrated and inexperienced Birutis, accustomed to nothing but adulation from her WU supporters, who was elected village president thanks to discontent with Rudy Czech and the dishonest rhetoric delivered by the Winfield United, is now herself desperately trying to explain how she’s done nothing wrong.
She demonized Trustee Allen as a rogue trustee, but Birutis has been forced to try and defend her poor and lackluster performance of the last two years. The “fiscal” candidate Winfield United sold everyone, is now more of the same.
That’d put anybody in a funk.
But I don’t care. Being village president is more than just serving Winfield United’s desires. There is no praise for being you. If you hate the job, don’t run.
Moreover, I don’t think that’s the whole story. Many of her seemingly self-pitying speeches and asides just don’t seem that innocent to me, never mind endearing.
She may sincerely have wished her job came with less political scrutiny (or a panic button perhaps?) and she may honestly feel trapped in her position. But she’s also determined to pretend that she is running “against Winfield 411″ in 2013. And that is outrageous nonsense for a village president who effectively owned the village government for two years.
Already her message is all about concern for fiscal responsibility, even though it is her lackadaisical and at times incoherent leadership that is to blame for the poor financial state of the village. What long playing record are we going to hear next from her, redevelop the downtown, plan for the future? Birutis has never run on a record. She’s always run almost literally on Winfield United’s fabricated narrative of her. Now she must defend what she has done – and what she has failed to do.
If that makes her cranky, that’s just too bad.
28 Responses to The Unhappy Village President
JT on July 15, 2011 8:22 am at 8:22 am (Edit)
I couldn’t agree more! There is no way even Birutis came be happy with her performance. So what does she do, she blames everyone else. Tim has don’t except point out the problems that exist with Birutis and the board members that blindly follow her and WU. She should be worrying about how to make this town work and pay for itself. There she has failed miserably.
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Aviva on July 15, 2011 9:29 am at 9:29 am (Edit)
Birutis has told people in town and even village board members she definitely won’t be running for re-election.
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No Wake on July 15, 2011 9:55 am at 9:55 am (Edit)
I hope this is true. Eight years of Debbie Birutis on the village board and look at the condition of this town! And it’s not just one area, its roads, finances, infrastructure, the police department, community spirit, moral, you name it over the seven years everything has gotten progressively worse under Debbie Birutis.
Although I find it hard to believe she won’t run again. If that is true who would WU run? They don’t have anybody. Even though there is no question in anyone’s mind Birutis will lose. WU is really feeling the pressure but then they deserve it for what they have done to the town!
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Ask Anne on July 15, 2011 11:10 am at 11:10 am (Edit)
Talk in town is Erik Spande is the new leader of the board. With the exception of Tim and Tony the rest of the trustees follow Spande’s lead.
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Tom Blackburn on July 15, 2011 11:26 am at 11:26 am (Edit)
Unelected??? Hmmm….
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60190 on July 15, 2011 12:43 pm at 12:43 pm (Edit)
OH MY!
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b eisenmenger on July 15, 2011 11:50 am at 11:50 am (Edit)
I know that what I am going to say is not going to be popular and will make me the subject of ridicule but it seems to me that many of the attacks on our village president and trustees who disagree with Winfield 411 have become over the top and personal in nature.
This article is a great example. Disagree with her policies, disagree with her vision (or lack of vision) for Winfield, disagree with Winfield United – that’s fair. But calling her “unhappy” and having the “gift of self pity”. Come on…grow up. Who wants to put up with that crap?
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Tim Allen on July 15, 2011 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm (Edit)
Brian, I actually agree with you. I would like to see this blog be about policy. If not policy than just about what is happening in town and how it relates to what is important toward moving Winfield forward. I’m just a contributor though, just like these other people. If others don’t like the programming they should speak up too.
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Tim Allen on July 15, 2011 12:13 pm at 12:13 pm (Edit)
Brian, Maybe you should write something for 411? They post pretty much anything. I am sure they would post whatever you write.
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2minutewarning on July 15, 2011 12:33 pm at 12:33 pm (Edit)
Brian, actually I disagree with you and as far as ridicule that’s over the top. I guess you discounted the 20 minute village board attack on Trustee Allen at the last village meeting, the meeting Tim wasn’t even present at to defend himself. If you had been listening you would have known Birutis made one of her woe is me speeches while also attacking Trustee Allen.
Furthermore, there are very strong rumors in town Trustee Reyes was severely disrespected by a member of the finance community at last Saturday’s finance meeting and our village president just sat idly by and did nothing.
Both of these attacks were personal in nature, is that the policy of this administration? Is this the type of behavior you support from our village officials?
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Tom Blackburn on July 22, 2011 8:39 am at 8:39 am (Edit)
And again, we got a diatribe from Birutis from the microphone, with a blatant attempt to squelch rebuttal (Tony did stretch the meeting to 11:00 to get his thoughts in.)
We listened to a full half hour of argument (between Norman Abramowitz’ public comments and two Board members’ floor speeches about political differences of opinion that had nothing to do with the agenda at hand.
There is nothing to get out of this than the fact we have people (Birutis and Spande) hijacking the Channel 10 forum to blast out political attacks.
This is not leadership, especially when it means replacing a business agenda with these sorts of things. It completely interferes with any notion of striving for compromise, when you are forcing everyone you need to pass your agenda into defensive positions. Sometimes you need to bite your tongue in order to get things done.
It is getting pathetic having to listen to it.
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Dean K on July 22, 2011 9:19 am at 9:19 am (Edit)
Tom, I am in total agreement with you. Pathetic is the word that comes to mind. Many people watching in Caliendo’s last night were really upset with Birutis. If she spent as much time running the village as she does berating Reyes, Allen, and 411 we wouldn’t be in the lousy shape we find ourselves in today.
I have one more point, this Emerald Ash Borer and the taxpayer’s money they are obviously going to spend on a tree survey. We are surround by Forest Preserve, is the Forest Preserve doing a tree inventory? The whole idea is just another waste of money. Are the board members who favor this survey spending this money so we can be Tree City USA?? It’s a ridiculous waste of money, just to get a designation!
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Tom Blackburn on July 22, 2011 10:29 am at 10:29 am (Edit)
Dean, this is what I found on Wikipedia as a brief synopsis of what is required to become a Tree City USA community:
To qualify for Tree City USA, a town or city must meet four standards established by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.
– It must establish a Tree Board or Department run by a professional forester or arborist, an entire forestry department, or a volunteer tree board that must be legally responsible for the care and management of the community’s trees.
– It must pass a Tree Care Ordinance that designates the establishment of a tree board or forestry department and give this body the responsibility for writing and implementing an annual community forestry work plan. Beyond that, the ordinance should be flexible enough to fit the needs and circumstances of the particular community. A tree ordinance provides an opportunity to set good policy and back it with the force of law when necessary. Ideally, it will provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees from streets, parks and other public places.
– It must establish a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita with evidence that the community has established a community forestry program that is supported by that annual budget.
– It must organize an Arbor Day observance and proclamation with a simple tree planting event or an award ceremony that honors leading tree planters.
What this all means is that we have to commit a $20,000/year budget to tree stewardship and a formal commission to manage trees. Now, if there are things we are already doing in the public works budget that can be tied together to come close to the budget goal, then great, do it! (Tree removal is part of that – EAB tree removal alone might get us there) I think we have enough people who are passionate about trees to be able to get the committee together… as long as they don’t get carried away with onerous restrictions on property owners. If this is $20k of new money, then no. Doesn’t make sense to waste staff time to spend $20k on a designation plus staff time to win a $25k grant.
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60190 on July 15, 2011 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm (Edit)
Brian – She has said she wasn’t running again, she said she’s tired of being yelled at by residents, she is short with residents at board meetings, doesn’t return emails, she is clearly unhappy with the fact Tim and Tony were elected. She has made defensive speeches at the board meetings. The town is in very rough shape. I think it’s safe to say this hasn’t worked out how she thought it would. And that she’s not too happy.
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Zero X on July 15, 2011 3:22 pm at 3:22 pm (Edit)
Brian, after 7 years of Deb Birutis she has left me unconvinced she can do anything to correct the legacy of inefficiencies she brought to our community which did not existed when she took office, nor has she shown she is equipped to fix them going forward.
From a board obedient to Winfield United, perceived or real – to the organizational and leadership skills needed to perform effectively as a board, she falls short – happy or unhappy!
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Chance on July 22, 2011 8:01 am at 8:01 am (Edit)
Well b -
After witnessing last nights village board meeting in which our village president called Trustee Reyes a liar on more than one occasion I think you are right, the author never should have called Birutis “unhappy” what comes to mind his either hypocritical or self-serving and quite possibly nasty.
Let me explain, first of all for allowing and condoning Norman Abramowitz (an obvious WU plant) to stand at the microphone and ATTACK 2 sitting Trustees on your village board shows absolutely no leadership and a complete disrespect for the voters in this town. Furthermore she allowed Norman Abramowitz (who is a listed cash contributor to WU) to violate her (Birutis’) own board rules.
I pulled this from the board agenda:
The opportunity to speak to the Village Board is provided for those who have a question or comment on an agenda item or Village of Winfield issue that will stimulate thought so as to make the Village Board deliberations more productive and meaningful. The Village Board appreciates hearing from our residents and your thoughts and questions are valued. The Village Board strives to make the best decisions for the Village and public input is very helpful.
Respect for the duties of the Village Board and for the democratic process will be adhered to – in this regard, civility and a sense of decorum will be strictly followed. All speakers must address their comments to the Board. Comments that are personally condescending will not be permitted. Therefore, speakers shall be courteous and should not make statements that are personally disrespectful to members of the Village Board.
Funny how the rules don’t apply to Tony or Tim – as you stated “Who wants to put up with that crap?”
Secondly Birutis reading from yet another prepared statement Birutis called Trustee Reyes a liar, this is an unconscionable act especially from a sitting village president. Once again, Who wants to put up with that crap?
Last night’s board meeting proves once again that Birutis is unqualified or unable to handle the position of village president. People wonder why our town is such a disaster all you have to do is listen to our “leader” she’s vindictive, self-serving and what I would call nasty and you have your answer.
I would hope come next election you would not be voting for Birutis or Spande so that we can finally end the 8 years of turmoil that has plagued our town and turned us into pariahs in DuPage County.
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Jason on July 15, 2011 11:54 am at 11:54 am (Edit)
Just maybe, while taking her vacation away from the job she has had time to dig deep inside of herself and see that it is time to resign from the board for “personal reasons.”
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Imagine on July 15, 2011 5:00 pm at 5:00 pm (Edit)
Or maybe because the board is no longer just a rubber stamp for her and now her one-sided decisions are being challenged the position has become to burdensome. It gets difficult when you have to answer tough questions, especially when they were never asked of you before.
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T Reed on July 15, 2011 5:40 pm at 5:40 pm (Edit)
CW, this is a very good article and spot on. Two things struck me when she was running in ‘o9, first, her inexperience at running anything. When you have the responsibility for running a business, or a corporation, you have a lot of skin in the game. You learn how to stand behind your decisions and policies. Policies that are well thought out and resolves issues. She never had that. Being a trustee is NOT the same thing. Especially when you only vote one way and fail to take a stand. The second thing that struck me is her lack of a thick skin. Maybe its confidence, maybe its inexperience, maybe its wanting to be what WU says you are: who knows. But Debbie Birutis cannot deal with the criticism that comes with being in public office. It’s tough, true. Many of us would grow weary with all that criticism coming our way. But I really get the sense that she would hide in village hall just to escape the mean world out there. Like you, I don’t feel sorry for her. Pity gets you nowhere. I do feel sorry for the voting public because they just don’t seem to get it right. They still tend to look at the surface of a candidate and not what they represent or bring to the table. Maybe we’ll get it right in 2013.
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JT on July 15, 2011 7:05 pm at 7:05 pm (Edit)
I watched all the board meetings since the election and it is obvious Ms. Birutis is not happy with the outcome of the election. I too have heard the finance and administration meeting turned into a shouting match and our village president was also yelling in the meeting. That doesn’t sound like a “leader” that is in control to me.
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lil red riding hood on July 15, 2011 8:12 pm at 8:12 pm (Edit)
Come on at a finance meeting where other employees are….shame, shame….maybe we should get the committee meetings to channel 10 even the plan commission then we as residents go watch at home. How about it Tim? Either channel 10 or Website? Save a life pay for it with another red light camera.
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Cutler6 on July 15, 2011 9:22 pm at 9:22 pm (Edit)
Somewhere Rudy Czech is smiling!
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Endgame on July 15, 2011 11:09 pm at 11:09 pm (Edit)
When you elect someone who has never run anything, never had to make hard business decisions, and never been held responsible for results, it is no shock that Birutis misses the unbridled adulation she enjoyed from the WU controlled village boards in the past. Birutis is a classic “do nothing” politician. That’s why WU picked her for the position. She is the person in a meeting who always thinks her ideas are “checkmate” for the discussion and who is never willing to get her hands messy with dirty work. It is hard to imagine that we elected her village president.
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Tom Blackburn on July 16, 2011 8:00 am at 8:00 am (Edit)
Hate to say it, but that description reminds me of Rod Blagojevich.
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DC on July 16, 2011 1:12 am at 1:12 am (Edit)
Debbie is one who never admits to mistakes because she feels that she can’t possibly make them. The problems are always caused by others. It is others who won’t let her execute her ideas. Her blind allegiance to WU’s ideology is the reason the town is in such poor shape.
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Zack Clark on July 16, 2011 1:11 pm at 1:11 pm (Edit)
It can be disconcerting when ideology bumps up against reality. Especially when it is blind ideology and doesn’t know what it hit.
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Hamilton on July 16, 2011 9:24 am at 9:24 am (Edit)
I really tried to give Debbie a chance. I live by and teach my kids listen to all sides and make up your own mind, everyone has an agenda. I read and listened to information from both sides of the ideological spectrum. All that being said I can no longer stand to listen to her and I do not believe anything she says.
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DC on July 22, 2011 7:32 pm at 7:32 pm (Edit)
As a resident for over 30 years, one of the “commandments” is that the village president is an extensions of the village and that, at all times, she should conduct herself as if she were representing the village. If the village president gets into an argument in public, it could be mentioned in a news article. As village president Debbie Birutis doesn’t get to pick and choose when she represents our village. Once Ms. Birutis accepted that office, she is expected to conduct herself in a way not to embarrass the residents of this village.
Last night’s meeting was very embarrassing and personally I am getting tired of Ms. Birutis’ childish and condescending behavior.