Incumbents use bullying tactics

The Stevenson High School board incumbents are behaving like bullies — running a campaign based on name-calling, lies, and character assassination. In contrast, the three challengers — Kathy Powell, Kim Brady and Charlie Cardella — are running a clean campaign of integrity, worthy of support.

I was stunned to receive e-mails written by current board member Steve Frost and his wife, Wendy, co-chair of the incumbents’ grass roots campaign. These e-mails are full of mischaracterizations, slander, and flat-out lies.

Mr. Frost’s e-mail states that the challengers want to “teach creationism and intelligent design, ban award-winning books because they contain passages with sex, and teach intolerance for our gay students.” Each of these statements is false.

Mr. Frost was at these board meetings. He knows the truth. I personally sat in the board meeting when school board President Bruce Lubin explicitly stated that NO parent has asked for books to be banned. The new candidates also do not support requiring the teaching of intelligent design.

And, they never have advocated intolerance or discrimination toward gay students or faculty.

Recently, I also obtained a copy of the incumbents’ official strategy for their campaign.

In their “Us or Them” strategy, they outline a plan to demonize the candidates as “divisive” and, ironically, “exclusionary” and “hurtful of people not like them.” This clearly violates the Illinois Association of School Boards’ Code of Fair Campaign Practices: (2) I will not use or permit the use of character defamation, whispering campaigns, libel, slander, or scurrilous attacks on any candidate... (3) I will not use or permit any appeal to negative prejudice based on race, sex, sexual orientation, religion.

I trust that the residents of 125 will see through these unethical tactics and make an informed decision on April 5 based on truth. Please visit www.vote125for125.org.

Ann Dreyer

Vernon Hills