A few comments throughout the last nearly 2 years have assumed that the objections I’ve raised to various elected officials’ behavior is “just politics” and a result of personal feelings against these people. That is simply not the case. I, like most of you, are concerned about the image and reputation that Carpentersville has. And, to have illegal, unethical and other questionable behavior engaged in by our elected officials does more damage than other crime, vacant homes or code violations. The Village is a “laughing stock”, as some have said, not simply because of antics of one person, but moreso because the People of Carpentersville continue to elect these types of officials time and time again.
On May 5th, newly elected members of the Village Board were sworn into office. All but one have a history with Village government that will be a tarnished coating over this town’s image as long as they remain. Let’s take a look at five of the seven members of the Board that will be there for at least the next 2 – 4 years:
Paul Humpfer:
- Convicted of domestic battery with a weapon; March 2008
- Violated Illinois Open Meetings Act; October 2006
- Violated Village requirements, for up to a year, by using meeting rooms for an unauthorized use; ended by Village Manager, January 2008
- Lived in Hammond, Indiana; June 2007 – October 2008
- Appointed to a Trustee position after doing “free” work on Village finances; 2004
- Appointed to a Trustee position after losing 2005 election; April 2005
Additionally, at a Board meeting about 1 month ago, Paul Humpfer appeared to not even know which financial accounting basis was used. He argued with President Sarto that the Village was not on “cash basis” accounting. Sarto then asked Finance Director Happ, who confirmed the Village used “cash basis” accounting. How is it that Humpfer supposedly “fixed” the finances when he seems to lack such rudimentary knowledge?
Judy Sigwalt
- Violated Illinois Open Meetings Act; October 2006
- Violated Village requirements, for up to a year, by using meeting rooms for an unauthorized use; ended by Village Manager, January 2008
- Conspired to disrupt the ability to conduct Village business; September 2006 – March 2009
- Voted to keep convicted criminal, Paul Humpfer, as a member of the Board; March 2008
- Used the Carpentersville Improvement Commitee project(s) for campaign; August 2008
- Voted to change rules to protect allies and friends on the Board; April 2008
Ed Ritter
- Allowed Village Committee to be used for campaign purposes; August 2008 – March 2009
- Was complicit in several of the above actions of Judy Sigwalt and Paul Humpfer, and voted in a manner that did not seek to see these actions punished or remedied.
Kay Teeter
- Was complicit in several of the above actions of Judy Sigwalt and Paul Humpfer, and voted in a manner that did not seek to see these actions punished or remedied.
- May have been present with Sigwalt and Humpfer during at least 1 meeting that would have triggered a violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Pat Schultz
- Violated Illinois Open Meetings Act, October 2006
- Was complicit, as Chairman of the Carpentersville Improvement Committee, in allowing Judy Sigwalt to use committee project(s) for campaign and personal purposes; August 2008 – October 2008
Time will tell about new comer Brad McFeggan’s role in the new Board’s agenda.
2 comments
May 8, 2009 at 1:21 pm
At a Glance
Chrysippus, this is not about Politics, as you indicated, or even the Image of Carpentersville, as you seem to posit. It is, to me, about the rights of the people of this community. We are the ones being violated by the actions and behavior of this Board.
Let’s give Mr. Ritter a chance to make the changes needed to “fix” the problems but also; we should expect this to be done with little hesitation or delay. Mr. Ritter has been a member of this group for the past 4 years and should know very well what is happening.
RESPECT should be for the people that you were elected to represent.
May 24, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Bill Sarto
Elections have consequences. This election is no different. There are consequences that the Village of Carpentersville will be paying for many years to come.
The voter’s stayed home and those who did bother to vote selected a group of candidates that do have a very questionable record on ethics and following the laws.
The media played a big role in this election. They distorted the facts to fit their own agenda. Partisan politics was played in a non-partisan election.
It is difficult to understand the silence by the media on the things this group has done. The media has an obligation to alert the public to illegal and unethical behavior by public officials. The question is where was the media when these things took place?
How did the media shift the blame to me for Humpfer’s crimes? How did the media look the other way on the illegal meetings? How did the media look the other way on the fact that “The All American Team” of Humpfer, Sigwalt and Hinz did nothing on illegal immigration after they were elected in 2007? In fact, the media allowed these trustees to duck the issue and responsibility after they ran solely on that ONE issue in 2007.
Yes, elections have consequences.