Gurnee mayor, police chief say candidate hijacked meeting

Gurnee's mayor and top cop have lashed out at a congressional candidate they say turned a planned discussion about crime and police work into a campaign event.

In a jointly written letter to the Daily Herald and other newspapers, Mayor Kristina Kovarik and Police Chief Robert Jones accused Republican hopeful Steve Greenberg of trying to hijack the May 28 meeting.

Greenberg is challenging two-term Democrat Melissa Bean for the 8th House District seat.

The meeting at the Gurnee police station was supposed to be a private talk about gangs and police tactics, Kovarik told the Daily Herald Tuesday. However, Greenberg showed up with members of the media and a staffer who videotaped the session.

Kovarik was further annoyed when Greenberg sent out a campaign e-mail featuring an unauthorized picture of himself with a Gurnee police vehicle.

"We were misled by Mr. Greenberg into believing he had an interest in expanding his knowledge, when in fact he was only interested in exploiting our good name for his political gain," Kovarik and Jones wrote. "We feel we were taken advantage of and exploited by Mr. Greenberg."

Greenberg campaign manager Collin Corbett on Tuesday said he was surprised by the letter and its "scathing" tone.

Corbett said he told police the media would be invited to the event. Corbett said he also specified the discussion would be a roundtable about fighting gangs moderated by Greenberg.

However, Corbett said he understood the objection to the photograph. Greenberg has apologized to Jones for the photo.

"I can see exactly where they were coming from," Corbett said. "We didn't want to put anybody in a tough spot."

Bean, of Barrington, declined to comment.

The controversial gathering was attended by Jones, Grayslake Police Chief Larry Herzog, Waukegan Police Chief William Biang and others. Kovarik did not attend.

Anyone can request a meeting with police or village leaders to learn about law-enforcement efforts -- and that includes political candidates, Kovarik said.

"It's important for them to educate themselves so they have a formed platform," she said.

Kovarik, a Republican, was angered by Greenberg's efforts to turn the discussion into a campaign event. Officials didn't know reporters would be invited to the discussion, she said.

Greenberg invited reporters to the event and issued a news release in which he said he'd be moderating the talk.

The photograph of Greenberg with the squad car was particularly irritating, Jones said.

"It makes it appear as if we were giving him an endorsement, and that's not the case," Jones said.

Neither village hall nor the police department has endorsed either candidate in the race, Kovarik and Jones said.

"We're nonpartisan," Kovarik said. "We have to work with everybody."

Corbett said neither he nor Greenberg was aware of any objections to the event until the letter appeared in the media.

"There was no desire to exploit anything," he said.

In recent days, Greenberg has spoken with Jones to smooth things over and is eager to talk with Kovarik, Corbett said.

Jones said he accepted Greenberg's apology.

The 8th District includes parts of Lake, Cook and McHenry counties. The House seat carries a 2-year term.