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Wauconda candidate accuses trustee of being behind local critics

One of the challengers seeking a seat on Wauconda's village board on Wednesday accused Trustee Linda Starkey of orchestrating local political unrest - an allegation Starkey vehemently denied.

Candidate Bob Cook made the charge during a joint candidate interview at the Daily Herald's Libertyville office. He was responding to a question about the political strife that has pervaded the town since Mayor Frank Bart took office in 2013. The angst has materialized at countless board meetings and on a community Facebook page that generally has an anti-Bart attitude.

"The people that are in the stands making the problems are doing it because of certain trustees," Cook said. "They're best friends and they're trying to prop them up so they can oust the mayor."

When asked if he meant anyone specifically, Cook named Starkey.

That didn't sit well with Starkey, a trustee since 2011.

"Just because I know somebody doesn't mean I dictate what they do in social media," Starkey said. "I don't tell them what to do. If anything I've said tone it down. Because you know what? It makes everybody's job harder. It makes my job harder (and) it makes the village look bad."

There's no "big collusion here," Starkey added. She challenged Cook to search meeting minutes for any negative comments she's made about Bart.

"I have never personally attacked him or told anyone to do that, because I think it's the wrong thing to do," Starkey said.

Cook and Starkey are among five candidates are running for three seats with 4-year terms. The others are incumbents Ken Arnswald and Chuck Black and newcomer Jason Anderson.

Two additional candidates - Trustee Joseph Coster and newcomer Tim Howe - are running for one seat with a 2-year term.

Starkey, Black, Arnswald and Howe are running together as the United For Progress team.

Coster, Anderson and Cook form the For Wauconda slate.

Political newcomer Carrie Serres was part of the For Wauconda slate and was running for a 4-year term, but on Monday she said she is dropping out of the race.

Cook, Starkey, Arnswald, Black and Anderson attended the discussion Wednesday night. Coster was unavailable and did a separate phone interview earlier in the day.

All of the candidates were asked about the political unrest in town.

Howe, one of Bart's most vocal critics, blamed the mayor for the problems. He said Bart hasn't properly communicated with residents or officials.

Arnswald and Black both said communication between Bart and the trustees wasn't good at first, but they agreed it has improved.

Anderson said he didn't "have much to comment" on the issue but called for "robust communication" among officials.

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