Mum is supposed to be the word on bankrupt developer in Antioch

Antioch Trustee Lawrence Hanson, who's running for mayor, said his campaign event Sunday designed for residents at a bankrupt developer's two partially built subdivisions was an effort to let them know he supports them.

But another trustee seeking the open mayor's seat, Robert Caulfield Jr., contends his opponent is saying too much about Neumann Homes. Caulfield said village officials are supposed to be tight-lipped because of Antioch's pending lawsuit against Neumann.

Voters will select from Hanson, Caulfield and Erik Peters in the April 7 election. Mayor Dorothy Larson isn't seeking re-election.

Neumann Homes finished about half of the 1,400 homes it was supposed to build at the Clublands and NeuHaven subdivisions near Route 173 and Savage Road in Antioch before filing for bankruptcy in November 2007. Since then construction has been at a standstill.

An 8,000-square-foot clubhouse and swimming pools were promoted as Clublands' big amenities, but they haven't been built. Not all parks have been constructed as promised, either.

Hanson, as part of Sunday's meet-and-greet at Antioch's Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, offered campaign literature that he said provided facts about the subdivision. He said he's not veering from legal advice given to Antioch's elected officials about commenting on Neumann.

Caulfield, who dropped by Hanson's gathering, said his opponent is going against the legal opinion. One of Hanson's lines regarding the Neumann park options that Caulfield claimed goes too far is as follows:

"In the unlikely event we do not prevail in court, I will spearhead a team to apply for a state of Illinois Open Space Land Acquisition and Development matching grant," states a Hanson campaign flier.

Hanson said Caulfield's take on his flier is wrong and that he's just showing support for the Neumann homeowners.

"It's generalization," Hanson said. "It's safe."

Caulfield produced an e-mail sent March 26 from Antioch Village Administrator Jill Velan that stated the attorney's advice to elected officials "it is best not to say anything at all" about Neumann.

Peters, a write-in candidate, didn't return messages seeking comment.