Javens attacks on Mathias not merited

It saddens me that Carol Javens has resorted to negative campaign ads in her effort to unseat state Rep. Sid Mathias.

Over the past several elections we have been subjected to numerous negative mailings and television commercials for various candidates. It was my hope that these disturbing attempts to mislead the public were limited to national elections and would not have a place in local contests such as municipal and state elections.

Unfortunately, Carol Javens has chosen to air television commercials claiming that Rep. Sid Mathias is a full-time attorney instead of a full-time legislator. I object to these ads for several reasons.

First, the job of a state legislator is not intended to be a full-time occupation. I would rather elect someone who shares the same issues as every working person in his district rather than a professional politician who may have lost his connection with the public. Secondly, I can personally attest that Ms. Javens is running the ads in a conscious disregard of the truth. I have been sharing office space with Sid for the past 10 years while he has been serving as our representative. During that period he has spent an extraordinary amount of time conducting state business, rather than his own legal practice.

Sid cannot and does not consider himself a full-time attorney. His focus over the past 10 years has been his state office - to the detriment to his private law practice.

Lastly, the ads being run by Ms. Javens provide little information about who she is, what her positions are, or why I should vote for her.

Let's focus on the issues that are critical to the people of the state and not engage in false and misleading rhetoric.

Jeffrey S. Braiman

Buffalo Grove