Ad criticizing Skoien was right on

A recent letter from Art Goes published in the Daily Herald responded to a full-page ad placed in the Herald by Richard Maxwell, president of the United Republicans of Palatine Township. Goes defends Committeeman Gary Skoien and tells us of his personal history with him, yet does not once actually challenge any factual statement made in that full-page ad.

As a deputy committeeman working with Skoien at TOPPER, Goes is part of that organization's problem and hardly a disinterested party. His personal defense of Skoien is endearing, but irrelevant. Why didn't Goes take the opportunity to use his letter to actually challenge the content and charges made by Maxwell is his ad?

The answer seems obvious. There is no denying that Skoien has worked time and again to unseat popular Republican incumbent candidates who don't kiss his ring (ask state Rep. Suzie Bassi and former state Sen. Wendell Jones, both of whom faced primary challenges from candidates backed by Gary Skoien). The giant campaign contributions received by Skoien and his TOPPER organization from endorsed judicial candidates are a matter of public record. And Mr. Skoien's letters, e-mails and robo-calls -- incorrectly identifying registered Republicans as Democrats as a reason to not vote for judicial candidates he doesn't support -- are inexcusable and clearly unacceptable conduct for an elected Republican leader.

Mr. Skoien's spiteful behavior is well known. Mr. Maxwell's ad showed us a trail of conduct that clearly crosses the line, and he backed up every claim with facts. I applaud him for letting Republicans here know just what kind of organization Skoien leads, that he funds it with huge inappropriate campaign contributions from judicial candidates he endorses, and then makes last-minute phone calls and letters that claim registered Republican candidates he doesn't support are actually Democrats! Who is Skoien to determine who is a Republican and who isn't, and who gave him the right to call any other Republican organization's sample ballots "fake"?

Shame on you Gary Skoien!

Louis A. Sands

Palatine