North Aurora candidates spar over loss of Walmart, Democratic politics

North Aurora Trustee Mark Guethle is defending himself against charges from an opponent that he is responsible for Walmart being denied permission to build in the town in 2007.

The failure to accept Walmart, Ronald Lau said, put a “black mark” on North Aurora that is affecting its ability to attract businesses to this day.

Guethle, however, said that he did not oppose the building of a Walmart.

“I have nothing against Walmart,” he said. And furthermore, “I was not on the board when Walmart was considered.”

Both men are among six candidates for three 4-year terms on the board. Guethle served on the board from 2001 to 2005, when he lost a bid to become the village president. In 2009, new President Dale Berman appointed Guethle to fill the remaining two years of his unexpired term. Berman, a Republican precinct committeeman, had run against Guethle and eventual winner John Hansen in the 2005 nonpartisan presidential race. Lau calls that appointment evidence that “shenanigans” are going on.

Lau contends that even if Guethle didn’t directly oppose Walmart, Guethle should still be held responsible because of his day job — government affairs director of District Council 30 of the International Union Painters and Associated Trades — and because Guethle is chairman of the Kane County Democratic Party. Lau contends that the union opposed the building of a Walmart on Orchard Road, that one of the leaders of a campaign against the Walmart was an employee of the union, and that Guethle should have spoken up if he really supported the Walmart. Lau declined to say the employee’s name, saying he did not want to drag a private citizen into the debate.

“His (Guethle’s) position as a leader in the Democrat Party, as well as a leader of the union where the opposition to the Walmart works, is completely relevant. The race is about North Aurora, and North Aurora is now suffering because of the Democrats’ actions to make Illinois uncompetitive with the tax hikes, and the Democrats and union leadership’s history in blocking Walmart from doing business,” Lau said.

Guethle said the woman who organized an opposition group does not work for District 30.

Lau charges Guethle didn’t support Walmart because it would have damaged his standing with the party and the union. “He had and has a conflict of interest when it came to petitioning the board or deciding on development in North Aurora,” Lau said.

Guethle, who is chairman of the board’s development committee, strenuously disputes this. Guethle also said that the painters’ council would have welcomed Walmart. He said that most of the Walmarts in this area have been built using unionized labor. In his 30 years with the union, “I’ve never run across one that wasn’t.”

The Walmart situation “has nothing to do with my job,” Guethle said.

Asked if the Walmart rejection was a “black mark,” Berman, who was a trustee at the time of the vote, said “I certainly do not think it is true.” He said businesses have opened in the village since then, including a McDonald’s, Chase bank, Citibank, Sherwin-Williams, La-Z-Boy store and Best Buy. CVS Pharmacy is planning to build a store. And until it filed for bankruptcy, Giordano’s intended to open a pizzeria in town. Jupiter Motorsports opened recently, and a Kia dealer moved into the old Saturn dealership at the auto mall.

Berman voted against the Walmart. “I think it was the location with the neighbors that was probably the biggest detriment to it,” he said. Berman said the village still talks to Walmart about building in another spot.

As for appointing Guethle, Berman said his feelings about Guethle changed from the time he ran against him for president until 2009: “I think he is a hardworking individual dedicated to the community,” who had experience on the board, Berman said.

The village board race is nonpartisan, and also includes Ryan Lambert, Christopher Sparks, Laura Curtis and Robert Strusz.