Political committees must abide by Illinois State Board of Elections transparency rules.
Earlier this week, we posted some helpful reminders to area political candidates of their campaign reporting responsibilities with the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE). This will be our second (in what may become a series) posting of helpful hints on campaign transparency due to one (apparent) repeat offender.
The ISBE rules clearly state:
“Any committee that makes an expenditure for any kind of communication directed at voters and mentioning the name of a candidate in the next upcoming election must ensure that the communication clearly identifies the committee as having paid for it. This applies to any committee that pays for any part of the advertisement, including its production and distribution.”
Well, residents are now receiving a mailing from a candidate committee (a portion pictured below) that does not appear to adhere to these rules. We previously noted that this candidate’s campaign committee signs display no state mandated committee identification either.
A campaign mailers sent to residents recently does not disclose the campaign committee that paid for it.
Common sense dictates that if one is running for elected office that every opportunity for campaign advertising with the candidate’s name on it would be maximized, especially when it comes to taking credit for who paid for it (at least one would think that).
This particular candidate, however, either fancies himself as a rebel, or perhaps isn’t taking this election as seriously as he should considering the high office he’s seeking. Another possibility is much more troubling, however, and that is he may not wish to disclose who is actually paying for his advertisements.
I’m assuming a resident concerned with election transparency can report these infractions to the State Board of Elections?
Yes. See https://elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/FilingComplaint.aspx?
Contacting an election attorney might be an advisable first step, though.
commonsense.com comes up as a nonprofit for educational development, not a political organization campaigning for elected office in the Village of Barrington Hills.
Here is a excerpt from http://www.commonsense.com:
“Common Sense is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.
We’re a nonprofit. Support our work”
I’m not sure if Ms. Jacobsen or Mr. Zubak are affiliated with COMMON SENSE. I do note that Ms. Jacobsen is a member of the Riding Club, and Mr. Zubak is the membership contact for the Riding Club. Is Mr. Kelly also a member / officer / former officer of the Riding Club?
My own experience, living in the Village for 15 years, is that the Riding Club controlled the former Village President or vice versa.
Residents should know if Mr. Kelly is a member of the Riding Club when they consider casting their votes for elected offices.
I am a former riding club board member and member for 20+ years. It is a social and educational club. It is not a lobby or any kind of political influence whatsoever. Membership is not publicly shared because it is a private club that is open to anyone that lives or boards a horse in BH
I was a member of the RCBH, until I voiced opposition to some of the Village initiatives by the former president of the Village. I even shared my opinions with other members of the RCBH (emails), only to be kicked off Constant Contact (“cease and desist” RCBH attorney). I was no longer welcome because I disagreed with the ‘leadership’, who were definitely very vocal and involved politically in the Village. The RCBH did not cash my membership renewal check. The ramrod amendment to the Home Occupation in 2014 was orchestrated by RCBH interests in favor of a single member of the community, a large commercial boarding facility that providing overflow parking for RCBH events at the Riding Center. Yes, RCBH is a private club, and its members (certainly many nice folks), but to suggest that it does not take political positions is plain re-writing history. RCBH once was quite powerful and influential in guiding VBH Plans, Ordinances, etc. Fortunately the RCBH lost that stranglehold when McLaugling and his supporters won the majority of the Board of Trustees. residents of the Village should be aware of this history when considering voting candidates who have obvious ties to the RCBH. The Village has made great strides, more roads paved, tax levies lowered, and again is a quiet Village. Lets keep it that way
Aren’t you the one that was ragging last summer you wanted the village “Hills Are Alive Fest” canceled for your own self-serving interests at a board meeting with your public comments? Hundreds of parents and children had a splendid time making due with the fact that candidate Dennis Kelly wouldn’t allow it to take place at HIS Park District riding center (might scare the horses), so all in all, how’d that work out for you?
Yup. The one that agreed with shutting HAA out of Park Dist properties and keeping the average tax payer out of the private club that benefits her special interest that controls our Park District and wants to control the Village Board again. D Kelly, current Park Dist president voted against HAA being on Park Dist property just like he voted against the veterans group holding their charity ride there without paying a substantial user fee. Yet, trainers from outside BH use the arena for a pittance while earning money on property our tax dollars maintain and improve. Ridiculous. Vote Cecola, Riff, Strauss, Eckstrom.
Every park district provides programs for people in and out of their village and rely on employees that reside outside the district. I’ve long said that the PD should charge for the use. I get asked by people that come from outside to use the facility who they pay to use it so outsiders are willing to do that. The forest preserve charges, however, no one patrols to check passes. The assumption that I want to “control village government” is absurd. I speak out on issues that are important to me and if I wanted a voting seat I would have run myself. I will vote for the candidates that most support issues that are important to me and I won’t agree with some that they support. But if my issues get voted down then it is what it is I will move on. Because I’m a grown-up.
I spoke as a covid doctor only and my concern for spread of covid. My remarks were submitted for public record. That’s an outrageous assumption that I was in cahoots with Dennis Kelly. I didn’t even know that the PD board had rejected it until Mr. McLaughlin announced it at the end of the meeting. I’ve attended the Hills are Alive with my young child in the 2 previous years and in 2019 transported my and another horse to be in the “Living Horse Museum”. I engaged with guests that were interested in the horses and wrote a description of my horse and her breed for people to enjoy. I agree it is a great event and I look forward to more in the future. I did not agree with Mr. McLaughlin’s decision to hold it last year nor other decisions he has made but I correspond with him regularly on state representative issues and we support some of the same issues.
I was not on the RC board at that time so I can’t comment on your membership issue but they do advocate for keeping the equestrian culture in Barrington Hills as well as providing events such as Sunny Sundays, The Kentucky Derby fundraiser that are enjoyed by members regardless of horse ownership or interest. But they are not a lobby, have no PAC, and when I was on the board it was discussed whether we should have a presence in village government and we decided not to. And I agree that sending out a mass email through their constant contact account to push a political agenda is highly inappropriate. Note that Stephanie Cecola is also a former board member I believe it was in 2018.
Last comment, I would also be willing to pay a fee to use the riding center as I do for the forest preserve and the riding club trails. Should be in/out of district costs with out of district being higher like every other PD