Dist. 15's Carlson defends attendance, taxpaying records

More than $18,000 in back property taxes are owed on the Inverness home where Palatine Township Elementary District 15 board member Nancy Carlson lives, according to the Cook County Treasurer's office.

Carlson acknowledges the taxes are past due, but said her former husband is responsible for paying them, not her.

"I don't think my divorce requires me to pay my husband's bills," she said.

Carlson, a member of the school board since 2001, is one of eight candidates embroiled in a contentious campaign for four open seats April 7.

The race has been filled with charges and countercharges, e-mails, blogs and even YouTube videos, much of it anonymous and centering on which candidates support or oppose the district teachers union and vice versa.

Carlson was hesitant to address the tax delinquency, saying she doesn't want to give credence to an "anonymous, whispering campaign."

Records show more than $18,000 is owed in property taxes from 2007 and 2008. The first of three missed payments was due in March 2008. Both she and her ex-husband are listed on the mailing address on record with the treasurer.

Carlson, an attorney, explained she was divorced several years ago and that her ex-husband owns the home she lives in.

The delinquent tax bill is "(my ex-husband's) business, not mine," she said.

Her ex-husband could not be reached for confirmation.

Carlson is also being targeted by critics who charge she has a 62 percent attendance rate at District 15 meetings.

Carlson, who said she's "disgusted" by "improper campaign tactics filled with insinuation and innuendo," doesn't know how that figure was calculated.

"Several years ago my eldest child was very ill and maybe there were some special meetings I didn't attend," Carlson said. "I have no idea."

According to meeting minutes dating for this school year, Carlson attended all eight regular school board meetings. Of eight special meetings through the end of February, she attended half. She was also at February's Committee of the Whole meeting.

By comparison, board members Wendy Rowdan and Kelly Keenan each have several absences. Rowdan missed three special meetings and two regular meetings, while Keenan missed two special meetings and one regular meeting. Both are stepping down this spring.

Tim Millar, the other incumbent seeking re-election, has perfect attendance so far this year. He was also the only board member to attend a fall administrative workshop.

Carlson said she doesn't know who's behind the You Tube videos, one of which is set to music from "The Godfather," but wants the truth out.

"These were popular tactics used in Nazi Germany. These are people who do not believe in the American process," she said of her critics.

Two of them are Joe Heater and Lisa Cadwallader Neal.

Neal, who ran for a school board seat two years ago and lost, has been critical of school spending and at the time criticized perceived teachers union support for other candidates.

Heater, a district volunteer who's openly supporting Millar and Vicki Wilson, said he looked at Carlson's attendance record from her entire tenure on the board to reach the 62 percent figure.

Heater said Carlson has a responsibility to ensure the taxes on her home are paid, saying it's "several thousand dollars the district would have at its disposal otherwise."

Neal agreed, and said Carlson should have her name removed from the tax bill.

Aside from Carlson, Wilson and Millar, the other candidates running for three District 15 school board seats are Peggy Babcock, Mark Bloom, Rich Bokor, Steven Miller and Matthew Taylor.