Committeeman candidates attack each other's character

Armed with loaded words like corruption, hypocrisy and Democrat, the two candidates vying to lead the Palatine Township Republican organization are going after each other's moral compass.

Incumbent Committeeman Gary Skoien, of Inverness, is being challenged by freshman Palatine Councilman Aaron Del Mar.

Skoien is circulating a video - which comes with a caveat that images are of a mature nature - accusing Del Mar of being a Democrat. It groups him with President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and shows he pulled a Democratic ticket in the February 2008 primary.

The video also states Del Mar isn't a respectable businessman. It features photos of him posing with women wearing only body paint, captured from a now-defunct Web site promoting Del Mar's old event-planning business.

Skoien, whose own involvement in a domestic dispute last spring with his wife made him the topic of late-night talk show jokes, said Republican voters who care about traditional values should be turned off by Del Mar.

"Given the attack (Del Mar) has made on me and my family, it's the height of hypocrisy," Skoien said. "The allegations against me have never been proven, but you can see evidence of his sleaze."

Del Mar said Skoien has resorted to a smear campaign.

Responding to allegations he doesn't even belong to the township's Republican organization, Del Mar this week sent out a mailer featuring a letter from Skoien himself enclosing his 2009 membership card and thanking Del Mar for his grass-roots efforts.

As for voting Democratic, Del Mar said it was a popular tactic championed by Rush Limbaugh in an effort to prolong infighting between Obama and Clinton.

Del Mar also defends his integrity as a small-business owner, saying he ceased operating his night life planning company years ago and is now a married father who puts on family-centered sporting events.

"I'm open to a character debate, but I'm sure he'd want to avoid that given the controversy in his personal life," Del Mar said. "He can't get me on any of the issues, so he's telling flat-out lies."