Seals gas stunt was really vote buying

This is in response to candidate Dan Seals' June 4 letter in which he tries to explain the purpose of his May 22 gasoline stunt that grid locked traffic around a Lincolnshire gas station.

He also implicitly denies that he was perpetrating a vote-buying scheme.

Illinois statute is clear about what constitutes vote buying: "Any person who knowingly gives, lends or promises to give or lend any money or other valuable consideration to any other person to influence such other person to vote for or against any candidate or public question to be voted upon at any election shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony."

Coverage of Mr. Seals' event in the Daily Herald and numerous other outlets all quoted people stating they will consider voting for Mr. Seals after essentially receiving a $20 rebate.

Add to those statements all the images of Mr. Seals' volunteers handing out campaign bumper stickers to motorists receiving valuable consideration (low-cost gas), and it sure seems Mr. Seals did, in fact, blatantly commit multiple counts of a felony.

Dan, here are two more campaign events you might consider:

• Participate in a parade. Instead of throwing candy to kids (who are not voters), hand $20 bills to the parents. Tell them the money is to help them buy candy since the price of food has increased. And don't forget to wave campaign signs at them.

• Give people $20 bills and a campaign button for looking at the sky. Tell people you are just trying to call attention to the fact that the sky is blue.

Our laws only have meaning if they are enforced, and I hope Lake County prosecutor Mike Waller will ensure this felony does not go unpunished.

David J. Kalbfleisch

Arlington Heights