Is Kane board candidate padding endorsements?
Congressman Joe Walsh and former governor candidate Adam Andrzejewski aren't endorsing anybody in the 19th District race for the Kane County Board.
But you wouldn't know that to look at the campaign website for Victor LaPorte, now seeking the Republican nomination over Kurt Kojzarek.
LaPorte, 59, has a website and a page in it labeled “endorsements” featuring a beaming photo of him with Walsh.
Another photograph shows LaPorte smiling with Andrzejewski and the caption below it reads: “Adam Andrzejewski, Founder of For the Good of Illinois and former Illinois Gubernatorial candidate is endorsing Victor LaPorte for Kane County Board district 19.”
The retired and disabled elevator technician is quick to point out that Walsh isn't actually backing him — a Walsh spokesman confirmed that the congressman has not and will not endorse anyone in that race.
But LaPorte respects Walsh's politics, which is why he posted the photograph.
“I like him and he likes me,” LaPorte said of Walsh. “He says he's a troublemaker and we need more troublemakers.”
The photograph was taken at a recent fundraiser for Tom Hartwell, who is running for Kane County circuit court clerk. LaPorte, who calls himself a common sense solution for conservative Republicans, says he isn't trying to imply Walsh is supporting him.
When asked whether the presence of the photograph on his endorsements page could confuse voters, LaPorte said no, because there is no text to indicate Walsh actually endorsed him.
“I don't think it's misleading and I don't intend to change it,” LaPorte said.
Andrzejewski said the photo of him and LaPorte was shot at a news conference in which he announced his endorsement for Chris Lauzen as the new Kane County Board Chairman. He added that he has no plans to endorse anyone else running for the county board.
“Victor LaPorte is running for office on the principles that I endorse — transparency, accountability and limited government,” Andrzejewski said in a prepared statement. “Specific to his races, I endorse Victor LaPorte for his precinct committeeman's position.”
Andrzejewski declined to comment further.LaPorte could not be reached Tuesday to explain the Andrzejewski photograph.LaPorte has made much of his opponent's backers, who include Lauzen and former state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger. LaPorte uses those names to dismiss Kojzarek as a political insider who would have a difficult time remaining independent in the county.
Kojzarek, 32, now the Elgin Township clerk, says he has photographs of himself with conservative icons, including author and commentator Ann Coulter, former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer and rock guitarist Ted Nugent.
But he didn't post them to his campaign site because they did not endorse him and the images have nothing to do with what he'd bring to the Kane County Board.
Moreover, LaPorte's actions with the two photographs prove he's not a candidate of #8220;real substance,#8221; Kojzarek said.
#8220;When a candidate doesn't have any real substance to run on, they like to fill their website with pictures and stuff like that, that have nothing to do with the race,#8221; Kojzarek said. The 19th District includes parts of Elgin, Dundee Township and Rutland Township. Both Kojzarek and LaPorte live in Elgin and are each running for the seat long occupied by Cathy Hurlbut.