In Dundee Twp. race, it's all in a name -- or where said name appears

For motorists driving along Route 72 in Sleepy Hollow, there should be no doubt who the township's highway commissioner is.

After all, his name and title are spelled out in 14-inch-tall white block letters.

But is the lettering on the side of the highway garage near the intersection of Sleepy Hollow Road and Route 72 just an easy-to-read identifier, or is it a brash reminder to voters?

Dundee Township Highway Commissioner Larry Braasch, who is up for re-election on April 7, says the lettering was part of remodeling plans for the garage and not a political push.

"Since the fire barn was built next door, some people don't know which is the fire barn and which is the highway garage," said Braasch, who has been highway commissioner for the past nine years. "We're just making it easier for people to see. We have had the letters for a while, but we didn't get around to putting them up because we had projects to finish."

Braasch argues the lettering is similar to the 1950s-style block lettering above the entrance to the building, which faces less-traveled Sleepy Hollow Road, that identifies the function of the building but not the man in charge.

The new billboard-style sign replaces a small portable sign in the parking lot that had in recent weeks advertised in black letters Christmas tree recycling and in red Braasch's name and title.

"I am your elected highway commissioner and I can put my name on the building," Braasch said. "If someone else gets elected, then they can put their name up."

But Braasch's challenger in the consolidated election, Democrat Dave Reece of Algonquin, says the signage is an abuse of power.

"He just happened to put them up days after the filing period opened," said Reece, who vowed not to emblazon his name on the building should he be elected. "When he found out he had an opponent, he had to react."

Katherine Moran, chief of the Kane County State's Attorney's civil division, said while it is illegal for candidates to use taxpayer money on political signs, Braasch's signage may not qualify since it does not encourage people to vote for him.

Moran likened the display to that of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's name appearing on signs above the open-road tolling system.

Sleepy Hollow Village President Stephen Pickett said the township included the letters in plans for its garage extension.

That extension was completed last summer.

"It was all part of the original plan," Pickett said. "They ran it by us to let us know what they were doing with the extension and I believe they were a part of that."