The real Lauzen has been unmasked

For over 24 years as a career politician, Chris Lauzen has campaigned on the same three things: honesty, integrity and ability. In fact, his top priority as chairman of the Kane County Board is to "treat people respectfully."

This seems ironic for a man who has spent a lifetime in politics viciously attacking fellow Republicans in private, while maintaining a false, sainthood-like image in public. That is, until last week's story in the Daily Herald blew the cover off his 24-year-old secret and exposed regular citizens - for the very first time - to the real Chris Lauzen.

Chris Lauzen is a bully who has used his title as a "public servant" to intimidate and humiliate anyone that gets in his way. And I know this firsthand. He's an expert manipulator, and he should be, after having spent 20 years in Springfield learning from Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. He was so respected by his colleagues in the Illinois Senate that after 20 years in the same job, he never saw a promotion or leadership position within the Republican Caucus. Accidental? I think not.

The details of the latest story are disturbing, and every citizen of Kane County should be horrified. The federal complaint said that "Lauzen engaged in a pattern of 'harassment, intimidation and demotion.'" So overwhelming was the evidence, that the county agreed to a six-figure severance package. Six figures!

Chris Lauzen will self-destruct, and that time is a lot sooner than we think. Thanks to the internet, this story will provide a permanent dark cloud over his name and will serve as a reminder of the man he really is. Kane County, this is your wake-up call. His fate is in your hands.

Mark Vargas

St. Charles/Washington, D.C.