Mundelein mayoral candidates criticize anonymous mailer

An anonymous political mailer targeting mayoral hopeful Wally Frasier that was sent to some Mundelein residents has been denounced by the other two candidates in the race.

Both Steve Lentz and Robin Meier insist they weren’t responsible for the piece, which reprinted a Daily Herald story about sexual harassment complaints at the Mundelein Police Department during Frasier’s final days as chief in 1992.

“We are running a positive campaign and hope voters decide based on the issues and not personal attacks,” Lentz said in an email.

Meier said the negative mailer “is what is wrong about politics.”

Frasier denied he sent the piece, too. He criticized whoever created it for not having the “intestinal fortitude” to sign it.

“I’m disappointed that somebody has taken Mundelein politics to this level,” Frasier said.

Frasier, Lentz and Meier are running for a 4-year term in the April 9 election. Incumbent Mayor Kenneth H. Kessler isn’t seeking re-election.

Frasier is a former police chief and current member of Mundelein’s park and recreation district board. Lentz and Meier are sitting trustees.

The anti-Frasier piece was delivered to some homes by U.S. mail last week. It features the Daily Herald logo and reprints the entire Feb. 26 article about Frasier’s tenure as chief.

Some parts are circled, and other parts are underlined. Two segments are starred.

At the end of the piece are two sentences critical of Frasier that were written by whoever created the mailer.

Under state election law, a campaign mailer must include the name of the organization that paid for the piece. Additionally, it’s a violation of copyright law to reprint a newspaper article without permission of the publication.

Lentz was among the residents who received the piece.

“My message to voters would be to please fully discount this as a personal attack and focus on Mundelein’s pertinent issues instead,” he said.

Meier was critical of negative campaigning in recent Facebook posts, too. She urged people to take the high road this election season.

“It doesn’t bode well for the community if candidates or others criticize fellow candidates to garner a few more votes,” she wrote.

Frasier questioned if whoever created the piece was too ashamed of the piece to sign it. He said he wants to keep his campaign “upbeat and positive.”