Can “Save 5 Acres” Trustees keep residents safe from their mistakes?
Earlier this year The Observer posted articles from various publications relating to complaints filed by Village residents with the Illinois State Board of Elections (SBOE) concerning potential campaign law violations by then “Save 5 Acres” trustee candidates Patti Meroni, Joe Messer and Karen Selman (see Winning Barrington Hills slate get warning and Elections board votes in favor of complaints against Save 5 Acres). While these complaints were filed prior to the election on April 5, 2011, the State deferred rulings and remedies on the complaints until after the candidates were elected by residents. The State gave the candidates a wrist slapping.
Since that time, however, four additional complaints were lodged against “Save 5 Acres” as a whole and individually against now trustees Messer, Meroni and Selman as a result of an apparent delinquent organizational form filed, “… in an effort to remedy a disclosure violation,” and campaign contribution filings with conflicting dates. These complaints were filed directly by the State, bringing the total complaints so far this year to no less that six (some complaints cited multiple violations).
The organizational filing complaint was the result of a botched attempt by the (then) candidates to justify a personal campaign donation totaling $15,000 made out in three equal checks to their committee (as of January 1, 2011, the campaign limit became $5,000 from individuals, thus the three checks of $5,000). The financial disclosure complaints pertained to two campaign donations of $1,000 or more that were not filed within State standards. For details see SBOE Hearing Officer’s Reports .
The accrued fines that could potentially have been levied against “Save 5 Acres” amounted to thousands of dollars. However, at its October 18 regular board meeting the State decided to stay those fines on the condition that the “Save 5 Acres” political committee or individuals named not reactivate or participate in a successor committee for a period of two years. In other words, our Trustees got probation.
Review of affidavits and transcripts of testimony from “Save 5 Acres” shows that our Trustees and their aides gave various excuses for errors made by the campaign, including fax transmissions that should have been received by the State; ignorance of campaign laws; organizational miscommunications; an unreliable campaign manager, etc. Apparently the State felt this comedy of errors warranted only a rebuke and probation. But Barrington Hills residents should find no humor in any of this. We deserve more from our elected officials.
Trustees Messer, Meroni and Selman oversee our Zoning Board of Appeals, roads and bridges maintenance and repair, and our Village finances respectively. Yet they were apparently challenged during the recent campaign when it came to knowing and complying with simple campaign finance and disclosure rules. This should be cause for concern about President Abboud’s delegation of responsibilities.
Only time will tell if the “Save 5 Acres” candidates (now Trustees) will satisfy their probation. We can only hope they do a better job of “saving” our Village than they did saving themselves from repeated and embarrassing campaign errors.
– The Observer
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