Some 'endorsers' take issue with Long Grove campaign mailer
Several people listed on a campaign mailer supporting Trustee Charlie Wachs, Steve Sintetas and Stan Razny for Long Grove village board told the Daily Herald on Friday they never gave the slate permission to use their names, and in some cases said they do not support the slate at all.
The ad, put out by the Investing in Long Grove slate, led by Wachs, Sintetas and Razny, contains about 50 names of prominent Long Grove residents and business owners who purportedly have endorsed the trio in the April 7 election.
On Friday, reporters for the Daily Herald tried contacting the people named on the flier. Not all of them were reached, and more than half of the people contacted confirmed they support the Investing in Long Grove slate.
However, others said they were shocked to see their names on the flier.
Barbara Reed Turner, a distinguished resident of Long Grove for more than seven decades, is one of those names. She had a letter published in the Daily Herald on Friday saying she not only doesn't support the Wachs slate but endorses the opposition slate, led by Trustee Stan Borys, Bill Jacob and Michael Sarlitto.
"I resent very much my name being misused this way," Turner wrote. "This is a serious misstatement regarding the endorsement of the 'Investing' candidates."
On Friday, however, Wachs and Razny defended how they and Trustee Lori Lyman, their campaign chairwoman, secured endorsements, saying each person was spoken to by phone or in person.
Wachs said the campaign did secure Turner's backing. When Turner was contacted by the Daily Herald again Friday morning, she stood by her letter.
"The real question here is honesty, and that's a very honest list," Wachs said. I'm offended that that would be challenged."
In hindsight, "if I had realized it was going to be under this kind of scrutiny, I suppose I would have gotten every one of them in writing," he added.
Some business owners who were named on the mailer said they never were contacted for an endorsement. Some said they normally don't take sides in village politics because it's not in their best business interest.
"I absolutely did not authorize my name as an endorsement," said Sue Thompson, owner of C No Pet Fence. "I don't endorse anybody."
Thompson said she had signs out in front of her business for both slates, but since seeing the mailer she has taken down the ones for the Wachs slate.
"It doesn't behoove us to root for anyone when you're in business because you'll just make someone angry," she said.
Paul Pessis, president of North Shore Audio Vestibular Lab, said Friday he did not know his name was being used and did not authorize it. But he stopped short of saying he would ask to have his name removed from the slate's website.
"I'm not a resident of Long Grove, but I have an office here. I'm apolitical when it comes to Long Grove, and I've never endorsed anything. My name is my name and it's important to me," said Pessis.
Randy Towner, owner of Mel's Marathon gas station, said he supports Wachs, but not Razny and Sintetas, and that the group did not get his permission to put his name on the mailer.
"Maybe it got taken out of context," Towner said. "I'm just trying to stay out of it. It's getting way out of control, in my opinion, for our little town."
Other business owners and politicians say they were asked to endorse the slate and did so.
Bruce Lubin, Bill Kenyon and Craig LaPlante all agreed to have their names used in campaign literature. The same goes for former trustee Stephanie Hannon and retiring Trustee Joe Barry.
"It's disappointing to see all the mudslinging, but I guess that's part of politics these days," said Kenyon, the Heron's Landing homeowners association president.
Wachs said his slate started seeking endorsements around the holidays.
On Friday, Sintetas invited people on the list to contact the campaign if they want their names removed from the campaign website.
He said he can personally vouch for the endorsements from his sister, Pam Besbeas, who owns Long Grove Cafe, and his former brother-in-law Steve Besbeas, who owns the Chatterbox of Long Grove.
Wachs and Razny got the other endorsements, he said.
"People can change their minds," he said of the controversy around the list. "I don't think it's an error."
Julie Neumann, of Neumann's Cigars and More, said although she and her husband don't live in Long Grove, they support the Wachs slate.
They knew they would be on the mailing and have hosted a meet and greet for Wachs, Razy and Sintetas in the store.
Chip and Mary Ann Ullrich, owners of The Village Tavern, said they support the Wachs slate and knew she would be quoted on the mailing. But Mary Ann says the dirty campaigning this election has gotten out of hand.
"There's a lot of misinformation out there from both sides," she said. "The sad part is that people really do need to be informed."
• Daily Herald staff writers Jake Griffin and Melissa Silverberg contributed to this report.