Moylan, Sweeney Clash on Unfunded Pensions

Susan Sweeney questioned Marty Moylan’s plan to address the state’s $83 billion unfunded pension liability in a political debate at Des Plaines City Hall Wednesday.

“What we’re talking about is a sinking Titanic, and we’re rearranging the deck chairs on it,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney, a Park Ridge Republican, community activist and substitute teacher, and Democrat and current Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan, are running to represent Illinois 55th House District, which includes portions of Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Elk Grove Village and Rosemont. 

Moylan said eliminating abuses of the pension system by union officials and administrators would be among his top priorities, if elected. Moylan said he would opt out of the state legislator pension program.

“Also, I would be opposed to having any state legislators to receive pensions because it’s a part-time job with full-time hours,” Moylan said.

It was standing room only in city council chambers as Moylan and Sweeney, and the candidates for the Illinois 28th Senate District, Sen. Dan Kotowski and Jim O’Donnell, gathered for a discussion about their campaigns, the issues facing the state and to answer residents’ questions.

Todd Wessell, editor and publisher of the Journal and Topics Newspapers, moderated the discussion, which covered a wide range of topics including the state's unfunded pension liability, employment, the role of government in business, Illinois’ reputation for a corrupt political system and more.

The debate will be aired on local cable channel 17, Comcast and WOW, and streamed online on the City of Des Plaines website at the following times. 

• Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 26 at 9 a.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 28 at 9 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 4 at 9 p.m.

Moylan was a member and employee of an electrical union for 46 years, Moylan said, until he recently retired. He has lived in Des Plaines for more than 25 years, is married and has a son. Before being elected mayor, Moylan served as alderman of the second ward in Des Plaines.

Sweeney has lived in Park Ridge many years, graduated from Maine South High School, was a client manager for IBM and is the mother of three children. 

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