Challengers concerned about newsletters in Cary

A village newsletter that hasn’t been printed out yet — and might never be — has caused some pre-election commotion in Cary.

The five challengers running for village trustee seats sent a letter to Village President Tom Kierna objecting to what they say were the village’s plans to mail a newsletter to residents just before the April 5 election.

The candidates asked Kierna to “refrain from publications that promote the incumbents because of the overt and implied political messages.”

Kierna, however, said there are no such plans. Kierna said he brought up the idea of reinstating the newsletter at a Feb. 5 budget planning meeting, but it would not be mailed before the next election because the discussion was about next year’s budget, which runs May 1 through April 30, 2012, he said.

“It’s a clear misunderstanding,” Kierna said.

Candidate Karen Lukasik, who said she and a few other candidates were in the audience at the budget meeting, said they wanted to ensure the village doesn’t mail the newsletter before the election. “Since this has happened in the past, we want to make sure it’s not happening again,” she said, adding that the five candidates also questioned the use of taxpayer money to finance newsletters.

The last village newsletter was dated winter 2008, but residents received it the month before the April 2009 election, Lukasik said.

Candidate Bruce Kaplan said the newsletters tout the accomplishments of elected officials. “I’m not against newsletters, I think they are a great tool for the village,” he said. “I just object to it being used as a backdoor way of campaigning for the candidates.”

Candidate Frank Steckelberg said he wanted to make sure the village president plays fair. “(Kierna) will do whatever it takes to win,” Steckelberg said.

Candidates Robert Bragg and Jeff Kraus also signed the letter to Kierna.

The village e-mails the Cary News Weekly, an electronic newsletter, twice a week to more than 2,000 residents, Kierna said. He will not discontinue the e-newsletter before the election, he said.

“We believe in open communication with the residents,” he said, adding that the e-newsletter does not talk about individual officials’ accomplishments, but gives residents information about new businesses and other village happenings.

Kaplan and Lukasik said they don’t object to the e-newsletter.

Incumbents Al Pilli, Barbara Hill, Debra McNamee and Mark Kownick are also running in the April municipal election.