DuPage board candidate sued by ex-campaign manager

A Democratic candidate seeking a DuPage County Board seat is being sued by his former campaign manager over alleged unpaid expenses.

Jeff Houston filed the small claims suit earlier this month complaining District 1 challenger Rifat Sivisoglu of Elmhurst failed to pay him nearly $1,400 for out-of-pocket expenses.

Houston said he was fired Sept. 11 when he didn't show up at a campaign event with Sivisoglu. He said he had told an underling to attend in his stead, but he didn't show up either.

"He got very mad at me and terminated me," Houston said.

Sivisoglu said it was a series of events that led to Houston's termination, not just one incident.

"He had some personal challenges that prevented him from performing his job," Sivisoglu said.

The candidate said he had warned Houston in the past about drinking alcohol during work hours and seeking reimbursement for alcohol purchases. He said he's refusing to pay for expenses because he was not provided any invoices from Houston.

"It's very indicative of how I'd handle county board business," Sivisoglu said. "You're not going to play with taxpayers' money, and in this case, contributors' money."

Houston has been paid more than $2,500 for the campaign work that began in June, according to Sivisoglu's campaign finance reports. Houston said he was to receive an additional $2,500 payment if Sivisoglu was elected.

Houston said he received a letter from Sivisoglu's attorney Oct. 8 "threatening" him that "any actions you take that negatively impact Rifat Sivisoglu or Citizens for Sivisoglu potentially exposes you to personal liability" because of a nondisclosure agreement Houston signed.

Houston said his relationship with Sivisoglu was contentious from the start, but he stuck with the campaign because he thought it would be a "fun way to spend the election."

"We locked heads all the time," he added.

Sivisoglu said he is planning to countersue because Houston still has some of his campaign materials. Houston has offered to drop off those items at a "neutral site."

"Why does he need a neutral site? He knows where the campaign offices are," Sivisoglu said. "He wants the drama."

Houston was a volunteer with the county Democratic party before taking over Sivisoglu's campaign. It was another relationship that soured, said county party Executive Director Amy Tauchman.

"He was a trusted volunteer who whittled away his welcome with inappropriate behavior," Tauchman said. "When his behavior got to the point it was causing more problems than solving we asked him to turn in his key."

Houston could not be reached for comment on Tauchman's statements.