January proved to be another good month for campaign donations to the SOS Party. Despite the fact that the party has yet to release a campaign platform, they raked in over $20,000 last month from at least three donors who exceeded the $1,000 threshold requiring reporting.
The three donors named in filings are:
- Lori Elder – $5,000 on January 10th
- Paul Loeber – $5,000 on January 31st
- R. Davis – $10,800 on January 31st
This brings the total reported cash raised by the SOS Party to $41,300 since its formation in December. However, since donations under $1,000 are only reported quarterly, the sum is likely higher.
The filings for these donations were again submitted by Laura Jacksack, a political and election law attorney. It seems clear that neither the candidates, nor their committee treasurer or chair want to have anything to do with financial filings.
Considering what Trustees Meroni and Selman went through with the State Board of Elections nearly four years ago (which resulted in two year probation for their former Save 5 Acres committee), this seems prudent.
The committee also released their quarterly expenses for the period ending December 31, 2014, which revealed the name of their website developer. Rather than using a local resource which created the website for their Save 5 Acres campaign and the “Don’t Change Barrington Hills” site, Meroni, Naumann and Selman opted to use Old Town Media in Ft. Collins, Colorado.
The location of Old Town Media did ring a bell with us, and as it turns out, a former village resident who used to be very politically active in the Riding Club moved to Ft. Collins a few years ago, so perhaps he’s lending a hand. And, perhaps not so coincidentally, this person’s daughter works for Old Town Media as a Marketing Assistant, as shown in the company’s directory.
Once again, we’ll be keeping readers updated periodically on the two campaign committees leading up to the April 7th elections. In the meantime, those who wish to review SOS Party filings with the Board of Elections can do so by clicking here.
The SOS party can hoard as many as dollars as they want, however this election will be based on restoring good governance, ethics, adhearance to the laws and supporting principled individuals with morality and no special agendas back onto our village board.
One only needs to watch the youtube posted video when Jack Reich posed some sensitive questions to our board of our January meeting to understand what is at stake if residents continue to return these individuals back to their power chairs! The past is the past, however let’s make sure we secure the future.
Thanks Observer – great information and keep it coming on both sides. This is absurd! The amount of money invested in a local political campaign for unpaid positions in a 4,000 person Village is amazing. What we need is a return to government in our small Village where we have competent and ethical oversight with a strong Village Manager, not special and conflicted interest politics.
Buying an election result with money makes us no better than Springfield! In fact we might be the one of the best suburban poster children for corruption and bribes and deal-making to secure political favors! They have damaged their credibility, and money won’t erase their records of the past.
It is estimated when Titanic sank there was more than 5 Million Dollars in cash and commercial paper on board. . . . what makes you think $41,000.00 in cash will save VBH SOS from a similar fate in April.
Admittedly, unlike Titanic, this is not a maiden voyage for VBH SOS. VBH SOS journeyed through VBH political waters many times before in the same political junkard they called, “Save 5 Acres”.
Like in 2013, the political waters VBH SOS will be called to navigate will be very difficult if not impossible, especially those rolling waves laden with the stench of corruption, waste and mismanagement of village resident taxpayer dollars by BOT “Save 5 Acres” failed majority leadership which includes VBH SOS ballast Meroni and Selman.
The only way I see The VBH SOS staying afloat through April 7th is if decisive action is taken by VBH SOS Captain, Steve Knoop to rid the political vessel of all dead weight we know will doom it . . . . Of course, by taking this draconian action will leave Knoop alone, in an almost empty boat with maybe one other candidate and the “Ghost”. Lundmark might be somewhere on shore many miles away on stand-by with email capabilities to possibly assist certain SOS campaign donor(s) with necessary language former VBH President would like to see in any affidavit requested by him.
BON VOYAGE VBH SOS! Be sure to take enough life vests! I hear the political waters will be very chopppy and unpredictable, as they were in 2013.
“We can chart our future clearly and wisely when we know the path which has led to the present.” *Adlai E. Stevenson *
The “present” in BH is a small community tore asunder by those that wish to profit from changing the fundamental rules of zoning. The “present” in BH has come about because we have not held our elected and appointed officials accountable.
The April election will decide the path to be taken in the next four years. The war chest that SOS is raising cannot change the destructive history of the two incumbents. Their past votes, actions and words prove their commitment to serving a chosen group our community and not the majority. The third candidate cannot be taken seriously with her one “issue” stance on saving BH from dreaded bike paths?
We live in a state where politicians are known to monetarily help and assist voters in making their voting decisions. Hopefully, the creative counting and other irregularities in BH precincts in McHenry County will continue to be monitored.
SOS doesn’t even make sense when you consider that open space isn’t being threatened here by anyone but them. Marty, Colleen, Brian, Brian and Michelle are for leaving our village the way it was BEFORE Abboud came in. So SOS is a misnomer. If they can’t even get that right, how are they going to run the village? Right into the ground like Little Bobby did? And I highly recommend going on the DON’T CHANGE BARRINGTON HILLS website. While Naumann did change the IP address from little booby’s company, she still cannot get off the DEAD subject of bike lanes. Hey Mary, how did you miss the memo? And slandering McLaughlin is only going to bring more of the silent majority out to the voting booth. I think that Mary Naumann is unfit to even run for Trustee, as she has a clear issue of delineating fantasy with reality. So SOS can’t even come out for what they really stand for and Naumann is trying to create something out of nothing. When I read your website Mary, I just pity you. I’m sure that you can find plenty of uneducated company in your circles, but you will not win over anyone with a brain with lies and slander.