Challengers poke incumbents for Antioch mayor, village board
The campaigns for Antioch mayor and village trustee have become heated, with incumbents railing against what they say is misinformation from challengers.
"I think they're doing a disservice to the residents of this town," said Mayor Larry Hanson, who is seeking a third term.
He is opposed by village Trustee Jay Jozwiak, who served four years on the board but lost a re-election bid in 2013. Jozwiak was appointed in 2014 by Hanson to fill a vacancy and again was elected in 2015.
"Has there been some mudslinging? Yeah, I would say there has been and it's been on both sides," Jozwiak said.
Jozwiak, a technical account manager who will remain on the board if he loses his mayoral bid, is aligned with political newcomers Christina Wojciechowicz, a self-employed mother of two, and Jeremy Lohman, who is involved with investments.
Hanson is running with incumbents: Scott Pierce, a field service manager, seeking a fifth term; Ted Poulos, a retired finance officer, running for a third term; and Jerry Johnson, who wants a second term.
Bob Burke, a retired management consultant and president of the Antioch Senior Center Council, isn't aligned with anyone. He said he has been knocking on doors and hopes to visit most of the houses in town.
"Overall, it's been a fine campaign as far as I'm concerned," Burke said.
That's not the case for the others.
The records of Hanson and the incumbents each are questioned by Wojciechowicz and Lohman in a two-sided brochure titled "Broken Promises." It provides responses and observations on key issues listed by the incumbents in their 2013 Daily Herald candidate profiles, Lohman said.
"I don't think these guys have ever been called out before," he said. "People are clamoring for change and happy they have choices."
For example, voters are told: They pay for Hanson's health and life insurance; that money spent on economic consultants has not yielded returns; and that he has removed police officers from schools, among other things.
Pierce is said to have missed nearly a third of "whole" board meetings and blames the state for a lack of business attraction, challengers say. Poulos has "consistently" voted for a tax levy increase, according to challengers.
On his website, Jozwiak says Hanson cast the tiebreaking vote on $50,000 in "unbudgeted raises," and his benefits are 125 percent of his salary.
Information provided by the village shows $25,792 was spent to increase staff pay to market value as an approved initiative and was budgeted in the contingency fund. Hanson's benefits equate to 78 percent of his $12,000 salary, according to the village.
"He's picking on issues that are overinflated. He's not getting accurate information,(and) it's hurtful," Hanson said.
"I'm not saying people don't need a pay raise, but it needs to be budgeted and appropriated correctly," according to Jozwiak.
Pierce said if meetings he attended by phone are included, his absentee rate is negligible.
Poulos said the flier makes it seem as if voting for the village tax levy is an unusual practice. Every attending board member (except Pierce in 2014) has voted for the tax levy each year he has been on the board, including Jozwiak six times, he added.
Incumbents also bristle at characterizations of downtown as a ghost town, as well as assertions that businesses are leaving and there has been lack of return on money spent on consultants.
"Downtown is probably in the worst shape I've seen it since I've been here - 15 years," Jozwiak said. Incentives are to be determined for Lovin Oven Cakery, announced last week as occupying a substantial space on Lake Street, he added.
"How can you say it's a done deal? It's not," he said.
Hanson and the incumbents say dozens of businesses have arrived, with more in the pipeline.
"Antioch is a special community, we're a thriving community," said Hanson, a lifelong resident. "We're close to being the next big thing. We're working hard, but that could change if you have the wrong leaders."
Jozwiak said his issues aren't personal.
"At the end of the day, there hasn't been a lot of challenge of these people for the seats," he said. "We don't see change in this town. How long should we wait?"