St. Charles mayoral candidates battle over conflict accusations

Conflict-of-interest accusations have pervaded the race for St. Charles mayor, making the contest one of the most unfriendly in the area.

Challenger Jotham Stein says Mayor Don DeWitte's tenure is marred by repeated instances of the mayor conducting personal business with people or companies who do business with the city.

DeWitte says there's no problem with how he does business in the city and he's done nothing illegal.

The candidates addressed the accusations face to face, point by point in a recent interview with the Daily Herald.

"I believe he is not objective," Stein said of DeWitte. "He sells cabinets to the same developers that are getting zoning changes from the city."

Stein cites three examples of what he deems to be conflicts of interest.

First, Stein claims DeWitte sold cabinets, in his role as managing partner for St. Charles-based Professional Kitchen Designs, to the development company Wiseman-Hughes Enterprises, which built the Renaux Manor subdivision. DeWitte received a $5,000 campaign contribution from Wiseman-Hughes in 2005, during his first run for mayor.

Stein also points to nearly $5,200 in in-kind contributions - mostly food and refreshments - to DeWitte from Joseph Klein. Klein is a minority partner in a building included in the First Street Development project proposal.

Finally, Stein points to the selling of cabinets to Midwest Custom Homes, a contractor for the Milestone Row luxury condominiums portion of the First Street project.

After Stein laid out those examples, DeWitte jumped in with the obvious question.

"Are you accusing me of a pay-to-play?" DeWitte asked.

"I say you're not objective," Stein responded. "All he has to say is I will not do business with people who are getting zoning changes in the city."

"I make no apologies for how I make my living," DeWitte said, proceeding to explain Stein's examples.

DeWitte said the people behind the Wiseman-Hughes corporation have been personal friends for more than 25 years. The contribution the company gave DeWitte was a result of that relationship, nothing else, he said.

Indeed, DeWitte believes Wiseman-Hughes will never do business with St. Charles again because it found it so frustrating to build Renaux Manor.

DeWitte explained Klein is involved only with the initial development plan of the First Street project. Klein has a minority interest in a building that is an entirely separate entity and is not tied to the fate of the First Street project itself.

Finally, DeWitte said he did not sign a cabinet contract with Midwest Custom Homes for the Milestone Row project until six months after the project was approved by the city, long after doing DeWitte any favors would have had any impact on the fate of the project.

"That is not pay-for-play," DeWitte said. "That is called the free enterprise system of America."

Stein said all of the mayor's explanation still amounts to a "tremendous conflict of interest" in his eyes. If elected, he pledged to never conduct personal business with an entity that does business with the city and pass a city law banning such conduct outright.

DeWitte challenged Stein to take any evidence of illegal activity to the Kane County state's attorney's office.

"He's accused me of being a crook," DeWitte said. "I categorically deny that accusation. I have never used my elected office to my personal advantage. There's no law that says you can't do business in your hometown."

Asked if he's ever received any personal financial gain from being an elected official, DeWitte responded: "Absolutely not."

Accuse: Mayor defends business dealings