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Streamwood mayor withdraws from tonight's SBA candidate's forum

After hearing news that Billie Roth withdrew from Thursday's Schaumburg Business Association candidates forum, 44th District state Rep. Fred Crespo decided not to show either.

Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat seeking his third term, released a one-sentence statement late Thursday afternoon announcing his decision.

"Due to Mayor Billie Roth's decision not to participate in tonight's candidates' forum, I will be fulfilling other scheduling obligations," the statement read.

Crespo did stop by Thursday night at the forum but did not take part. A table with two vacant seats and a banner bearing Crespo's and Roth's names sat on stage.

Roth, a Republican and longtime Streamwood village president, pulled out of the forum this week, citing the need to attend a meeting Thursday night with her village board. Her campaign manager, Garett Hill, sent a two-paragraph e-mail explaining the decision to business association President Tonya Lamia.

"I apologize for my absence from the SBA Candidate's Forum. The village of Streamwood is having their annual goals and objectives meetings, and as village president, it is important that I attend the meeting," the e-mail reads. "Again, I truly appreciate the invitation to attend this forum."

The pair did attend an Aug. 27 forum on special-needs issues at the Schaumburg Township office but did not interact. They would have had the chance Thursday night.

Roth's letter, provided by Hill, is dated "September 2010." Lamia said she received the e-mail earlier this week. The candidates were invited in July, and Lamia began planning the forum in April.

"It is what it is," Lamia said. "We would be delighted to have her, but we understand that scheduling conflicts can occur. Actually when planing this event, thinking about it back in April, I thought our biggest challenge would be finding one night when all eight people would be available."

The special meeting in Streamwood was announced to the press in a notice Village Clerk Kittie Kopitke sent out dated Tuesday.