The direct mail campaign so far by the SOS Party includes a catchphrase intended to lure votes from less informed residents of Barrington Hills in the April 7th election. Their advice to those voters is, “Don’t be deceived,” as though others in the Village aren’t as genuine as they pretend to be, casting aspersions upon the One Barrington Hills candidates Bryan Croll, Michelle Nagy Maison and Brian Cecola, as well as our current Village President.
The truth is that many informed residents find their use of that catchphrase to be extremely disingenuous since the SOS mailings, website and Facebook page are littered with half-truths and, in some cases, blatant misrepresentations of the facts in this election.
In fact, there are so many distortions of reality in their various campaign communications that we’ll need to publish them in a multi-part series beginning today with part one. What is even more disturbing, however, is that the SOS candidates may actually believe what they wrote (or approved for publication) is the truth.
Here’s Part One of SOS campaign deceits:
SOS Spin: “Save Open Space candidates have no hidden agendas.”
Reality: Patty Meroni and Karen Selman have consistently practiced special interest agenda-based, block voting on the Village Board since they were elected. The bulk of their massive campaign donations have come from members of the largest quasi-political action committee in the Village, The Riding Club, which appears to set the SOS agenda, hidden or not.
The recently passed and fast-tracked LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse Boarding Amendment favoring one boarding operation in particular is a prime example of their agenda-based voting. As a result, Barrington Hills now faces a lawsuit that cites actions by Meroni and Selman.
SOS Spin: “(Selman) structured and managed $8.4 million annual village budget.”
Reality: Every year, each member of the Board of Trustees submits the proposed budget for their assigned committee to the Village Treasurer, who then works with the Village President to structure the budget. The Village Treasurer manages and reports expenses versus revenues and provides reports to the Board, which Selman presents each month for approval.
SOS Spin: “(Naumann and supporters) collected nearly 600 signatures against (Meroni’s) bike plan”
Reality: Mary Naumann did present nearly 600 signatures, however many were double or triple counted, as a result of multiple versions of petitions being circulated. One very telling petition version pertained to keeping the traffic island at Haegers Bend and Spring Creek, which Patty Meroni on her own apparent authority offered to remove at a May 2013 McHenry County Council of Mayors meeting.
SOS Spin: “(Meroni) actively opposed construction of environmentally hazardous East Dundee auto reclamation site atop aquifer adjacent to Pond Gate subdivision.
Reality: Meroni’s attendance at East Dundee village meetings did little, if anything, to positively sway East Dundee to modify IAA’s construction plans. Almost immediately after he was elected, President McLaughlin exercised diplomacy to work on mitigation for the neighboring residents, and obtained safeguards to their and others’ water supply.
SOS Spin: “(President McLaughlin) abandoned the residents of Pond Gate after promising to help prevent or mitigate a sure-to-pollute auto-dismantling site planned in East Dundee.”
Reality: President McLaughlin dove head first into what had been a mismanaged situation regarding IAA’s proposed facility. Working with IAA management, he secured their agreement to line the retention pond to protect the aquifers. Additionally, IAA agreed to reduce operating hours on weekdays, and weekends, restrict lighting at the facility, equip all machinery with state-of-the art “white noise” backup signals for sound suppression, and restrict car-carrying trucks from using Penny Road.
The Village of East Dundee also offered to install a fire hydrant in close proximity to the Pond Gate subdivision, as well as provide snow plowing and road resurfacing of Pond Gate’s private roadways. This is hardly what any rational person could consider “abandonment” of these residents.
Look for part two in this “Don’t be deceived” series in tomorrow’s Barrington Hills Observer.
Observer, thanks! Your team is doing a great service to the Village identifying the truth.
There is likely a core group of people who read the Observer and are informed. It’s our obligation to work hard in behalf of 1BH to elect Croll, Maison and Cecola by alerting all of our neighbors to read the Observer AND to vote for these candidates. Losing the election would mean at least 2 more years of divisive practices and abuse of office.
Winning the election is our responsibility!
Ditto! Keep up the good work! What is so maddening about the SOS’ers and the Officers of the Riding Club is that they purposely (and falsely) claim that not voting for them means loss of open space, potential loss of the right to “enjoy horses” and loss of access to riding trails. Next perhaps they’ll claim that voting for anyone other than them will pollute the very air we breathe in Barrington Hills. The truth is that voting for them has already polluted Barrington Hills — with their lies, their special deals, their kissing Mr. Le Compte’s horses’ asses and their continued waste of BH assets.
I recently blogged on BHO that our Neighbor’s and our One Barrington Hills’ signs were stolen . . . This morning I report to BHO readers that all One Barrington Hills signs on Braeburn Road South of our residence have been removed. Some with just the metal frames remaining. [I have not had time to check the Northside of Braeburn]
Can this be the work of the [S]teal [O]pponents [S]igns party? Do you think Rosene, Lundmark or Knoop who author SOS website or SOS candidates, Meroni, Selman and the other one will formally request this illegal activity stop?
As a candidate myself in two former VBH trustee elections, I can report from first hand experience, this is the way these “Save 5 Acres” miscreants behave. . . . .
Let’s just hope SOS limits their corrupt activities to stealing One Barrington Hills’ signs and that none of the SOS campaign donations came with any strings attached.
NOTICED HOW SOME PARTIES HAVE LOGOS WITH OR WITHOUT HORSES IN THEM. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
(who is for and who is against different horse issues at different levels.)
If we are voting for each person on an individual basis, how are we to know
exactly where they stand before voting day?
Wish there was a chart of exactly where each member stands on each issue.
Somethings bother one person and might not bother another.
These are just a few things, wonder where they stand ….
* Finances and how the village funds are or will be used.
* Road Projects, resurfacing, etc.
* Bike Paths
* Horse Trails
* Remove Island at Haegers Bend
* Private Parties that bring in people from out of town
* Firework Displays that are professional pyrotechnical
(effect on neighbors, pets, livestock and wild animals)
* Horse Events that draw in people from out of town
* Horses private ownership
* Horse boarding – small scale
* Horse boarding – commercial scale
* In Home Occupations – what was okay at one time, later offends others
* People who Raise Other Large and Small Animals in Village-
Farm Livestock, Breeding Stock, Show Stock & Pets,
There are some that sell meat, eggs for food from home.
There are several dog breeders, boarding kennels and
rescue/shelters in village that have been left alone for years.
David,
I wouldn’t count on the miscreants limiting their shenanigans to stealing signs. Recall that there were election booth irregularities reported in the last Village election (reported by Coroner Majewski at a Public meeting). Allowing a former resident to vote in a current election. Rumor has named the woman election judge who allowed that; i wont’ repeat the rumor since I haven’t confirmed the person’s name but I have advised other residents who serve in that (McHenry County voting location) of the infraction.
So now we have typical political half truths, arguing issues that don’t exist, Lies on the SOS website, stealing signs, what else can they do?
I am becoming more convinced that these are desperate candidates (and their keepers – Riding Club leaders) will lie and cheat and do whatever they can to reverse the toll). I believe they fear they are losing, despite the fact that they have raised $5 to every $1 raised by ONE BH.
I echo Richard’s advise and direction: Winning the election is our responsibility. We need to get out the vote.
And yes, one more thing. I’d like to learn the name of the real estate agent knockiing on doors for the Steal Our Signs Campaign, so that I scratch her off my list IF I ever decide to sell my property in the Village.
PS MISCREANT: a person who behaves badly or in a way that breaks the law.
synonyms: criminal, culprit, wrongdoer, malefactor, offender, villain, lawbreaker, evildoer, delinquent, hoodlum, reprobate; malfeasant
“the South Street playground has been taken over by a pack of drug-dealing miscreants”
(not the former plan commissioner)
I have a curious question about all of the campaign funds that various donors have given to certain SOS/Save5Acre Candidates. Can these funds be converted into a defense fund for Messer, Meroni and Selman?
Also, with many ONE BH signs disappearing I have to ask another question. Is Dan Lundmark back in town?
We may get the answer to your question sooner rather than later …….lol
I notice the one issue Peace and Harmony avoided and that is which candidates stand for political corruption. . . The answer: BOT Meroni and Selman and their actions and/or inactions surrounding the illegal campaign donations they received and illegal “Schuman Letter”, 34 days later.
If Meroni and Selman were not directly involved in “pay to play” politics (Schuman Letter for campaign donations), Meroni and Selman are certainly involved in the cover-up.
Peace, if you do not know the details by now, do the village a favor and stay home on election day. . . . Hey Peace, it is not about horses and who likes and supports them, since all in VBH support horses, it is about POLITICAL CORRUPTION . . . .
Let’s not start sinking to the SOS level! This is our opportunity to inform with dignity, respect and tolerance which is what I seek at this election. I feel your frustration and SHARE it, I assure you, but I cannot and will not sink to their level. I AM ABSOLUTELY WITH YOU! Be certain I am spreading the word with everything I have to try and ensure the corruption in our village ends!