66th District race heats up

Cable TV ads in the 66th state House race so infuriated a local mayor that he publicly called for an apology and retraction, threatening legal action on Wednesday.

Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson held a news conference at village hall in order to defend his town against what he called vicious lies by Mark Walker, a Democrat, who is running against Elk Grove Village Trustee Christine Prochno.

He charged Walker had harmed the village's business prospects, which is a sensitive issue in a town with one of the largest business parks in the country.

Johnson called for Walker to admit he's wrong or he said he'll be consulting village attorneys about suing Walker.

"It shows a lack of respect to the people of Elk Grove Village," Johnson said at village hall. "It's poor judgment on the part of Mark Walker."

Walker responded that Johnson can't "refute true claims." His ads are backed up by documentation and village records, he said.

"It's unfortunate that Mayor Johnson has made this into a big event," Walker said.

Johnson outlined his grievances in detail. One ad implied the board had passed a gasoline tax, which is untrue, he said. The village could tax gasoline, but it has never done so, he said. The village did pass a sales tax on retailers, some of whom sell gas, he said.

Walker said the ads about gas pertain to the retailers' tax and to natural gas, which the village does tax. The ads never specially cited a motor fuel tax, he said.

Another ad states the village had a projected $8 million budget deficit in 1998, which Johnson said is untrue. He added this claim is particular damaging because people who are looking for homes or to open up businesses would be less inclined to do so in a village that appears to be fiscally unsound.

Walker stood by his claim. He cited a 1998 newspaper article by the Elk Grove Times that indicated the village was expecting an $8 million deficit. Johnson said the article was incorrect, adding he was furious that Walker would use a "preview article of a meeting where the deficit never materialized."

The candidates are fighting for an up-for-grabs seat of Carolyn Krause, who is stepping down after a long tenure. Krause, a Republican, is supporting Prochno for her seat, which covers parts of Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights and Wheeling Township.