11th hour complaint filed against Prospect Hts. mayor

A complaint filed Thursday against Prospect Heights Mayor Dolly Vole accuses her of using city resources to campaign for re-election.

Attorney Anthony J. Jacob of Prospect Heights, the son-in-law of her opponent Nick Helmer, filed the complaint with the Cook County state's attorney's office, saying she used the March 25 “Prospect Heights e-News” as a campaign vehicle in her tough re-election battle against Helmer and write-in candidate Kurt U. Giehler.

Jacob is charging that one part of the newsletter, “the FAQ about the City of Prospect Heights,” was written by Vole and addressed a number of issues brought up in connection with the mayoral campaign.

“The crime is using public funds for her own campaign purposes,” Jacob said. “It was created on city time with city money and city resources.” He also objected to Vole posting “the FAQ” on her own campaign website.

“It's wrong if she uses it for her own campaign purposes,” said Jacob. “That's the most evident way to see that she's misusing city funds.”

Items in the FAQ include a Prospect Heights property tax bill, pointing out that the city receives property taxes for only the police pension fund and special service areas. The mayor's and city administrator's salaries are listed, along with Vole's comments about police layoffs, development issues that have come up in recent years, road repairs and water.

The development issues occurred years ago, said Jacob, asking why would they be included in a newsletter except for their political value.

Vole denied Jacob's charge. She said she did not use city equipment or space to produce “the FAQ” and says the FAQ “does not have one piece of campaigning” in it.

Instead, “the FAQ” addresses questions that people have been asking city staff members,” taking up their time, Vole said. She added “the FAQ” was approved by the city attorney before she sent it out.

Since she created “the FAQ” she has the right to use it on her website, Vole added.

Vole introduced “Prospect Heights e-News” last July, sending the electronic newsletters before city council meetings to 300 residents who have signed up to receive them, she said.

Tandra Simonton, spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office, said it was impossible to say Thursday if a decision about the complaint would be made before Tuesday's election.

Jacob said the newsletter was issued 11 days before the election, but his complaint was filed four working days before the election because he is not on the e-mail list, and it was just brought to his attention.

In 2010 Vole had to repay the city for the use of a public works vehicle she drove in both the 2009 and 2010 Fourth of July parades, on which she hung campaign signs.