3 Roselle trustee candidates reject forum invitations

Three of the six candidates running for Roselle village board bowed out of a candidate forum scheduled for Feb. 16 at Spring Hills Elementary School.

Members of the Roselle United Party, Eleanor “Elly” Paletta, Richard Rhode and Todd Eichholz, declined invitations to the event sponsored by Roselle School District 12 and the district Parent Teacher Organization. They sent a letter Monday on their party’s behalf to Superintendent Lori Bine.

Independent candidates Barbara Rendall Hochstadt, Ron Baker and Wayne Domke are scheduled to participate.

“We are uncomfortable attending what is essentially a political event that appears to be organized, publicized and conducted at taxpayer expense,” Trustee Kory Atkinson, Roselle United campaign manager, said in the letter.

“We are also concerned about the impartiality of the event because one of the moderators is listed on a candidate’s website as a ‘vocal supporter’ of that candidate.”

Moderator Tom Della Penna, current school board member and former president, is listed as a Hochstadt supporter on her campaign website.

Hochstadt said she doesn’t see a conflict of interest.

“It’s kind of a ceremonial role and appropriate ... but it is primarily the audience who will be asking questions” she said. “Plus, Tom can support three candidates including members of their party. I hope they work it out, because it would be nice to have all six candidates in one room.”

Publicity materials confirm the event will begin with general questions from the moderator before audience members can pose their own questions to the candidates. Bine said she left messaged with Roselle United Tuesday afternoon to ask if modifying the format would make them more comfortable. She is planning to change the moderator regardless, she said, and is currently considering other parties.

She is also checking with a school district attorney to make sure taxpayer funds are being properly used to host an event that offers free admission to the community.

“Our viewpoint was that it would be a great community service, since there are six candidates running (for three seats), this is a place that is centrally located and most Roselle families attend our schools,” Bine said. “There has been no cost involved with this so far except for the letters I’ve sent out about the event, but I am checking to make sure we’re doing everything correctly and then we can make a decision on how to move forward.”

In addition to questioning whether the forum is a good use of taxpayer money, Rhodes also said the school district has never been involved in the campaign process in recent years. So far, District 12 does not have plans to play host to forums for the contested public library or park district races, Bine said.

“This is not normal in Roselle and I’ve been on the board for 14 years,” Rhode said.

Paletta, Rhode and Eichholz said they will opt instead to meet voters at their next “Resident Reception” scheduled for Feb. 21 at Impecca Restaurant in Roselle, which suggests a donation of $25 per person for their campaign.