Warrenville unfairly portrayed in article

I appreciate your recent article on the report, Corruption in the suburbs. In his article, Jake Griffin highlighted former Warrenville Alderman Christopher Halley as, “among the list of wrongdoing(s)” despite the fact that the report has him listed only in the roster and makes no mention of Warrenville in the six categories of corruption-related convictions.

I find it unfortunate that the article and report failed to note that Mr. Halley’s conviction was the result of the city’s aggressive investigation and the city bringing the issue to the state’s attorney. The city council had also publicly censured Mr. Halley for attempting to use his office to influence police actions. Warrenville does not tolerate corrupt, criminal or unethical behavior and we deal with it thoroughly and expeditiously.

While rooting out and stopping public corruption is laudable, I would hope that articles such as this exercise caution so as not to broad-brush all public officials as corrupt until proven innocent, as well as give credit to those communities who police themselves and hold their officials accountable for unethical behavior.

I am proud of my community and the work elected officials and city staff does for Warrenville. It is done ethically, legally and with commitment to our residents. Being lumped into a report with other communities whose officials have engaged in serious, ongoing illegal and unethical activity is unfair and misleading. Warrenville should be held as an example of a community that would not need a suburban inspector general’s office because we hold our officials accountable.

David L. Brummel

Warrenville mayor