Campton Hills candidates promise dissolution

Eight Campton Hills residents attempting a takeover of their local government vowed Thursday to dissolve the village if elected in the Feb. 5 primary. But how and when such a move would take place has yet to be decided, they said.

"The end result is to dissolve the village in the best and most expedient way," said William Lundborg, one of six from the slate running for village trustee positions.

The candidates brought up their dissolution plans at a nearly two-hour meeting attended by about 25 supporters and the media.

Robert Young, who is trying to oust appointed Village President Patsy Smith, said the public has been misinformed by village proponents who campaigned for and narrowly won incorporation rights in an April referendum.

He and others believe the village underestimated the cost of running a municipality and "played on" residents' fears of encroachment by the city of Elgin to win votes.

"The bottom line is, everyone in this room realizes this is not going to suffice," Young said. "If you have elected people in office and they know they can't afford to run a village, you have to dissolve."

Reached by phone Thursday night, Smith responded by saying the group needs to re-examine the responsibilities of elected officials.

"All municipal leaders should take their jobs and the oath of office seriously to do what's best for the village," she said. "So if the only reason to run is to dissolve the village, I think they really need to reconsider what fiduciary responsibility means."

The slate is among 17 candidates for eight village offices in what is to be the village's first election. It's campaigning under the umbrella of the Stop Campton Hills Public Action Committee -- an organization that also is trying to dissolve the village via referendum on Feb. 5.

Thursday was the first time the candidates, who have a variety of professional backgrounds, have spoken publicly as a group.

"We feel the people were duped originally, and we want a second chance" to reverse incorporation, said village board candidate Marty White.

Aside from White, Lundborg and Young, the group's candidates are: William Brown, Frederick Robinson, Susan Secondi and Richard Seehafer for village board, and Carolyn Higgins for village clerk.

Candidates seeking to keep their appointed seats are Smith and trustees Jim Kopec, Al Lenkaitis Jr. and Mike Millette. Other candidates are Karen Dowd for village clerk and Laura Andersen, Susan George, Gary Moore and John Strauss for village board.