Prospect Heights candidates spar over experience, Cloud's airport board ouster

Prospect Heights aldermanic candidate Betty Cloud says Mayor Nick Helmer forced her to resign last summer from the board of the Chicago Executive Airport without a proper explanation.

"Mayor Helmer does not like people with opinions that differ from his to be at the table," she says.

Her opponent, City Clerk Wendy R. Morgan-Adams, says airport managers and board members from Wheeling as well as Prospect Heights had issues with Cloud's conduct.

"Both cities wanted her off the board," Morgan-Adams said. "It was a very serious problem."

Cloud, a onetime Helmer ally who now has become a strong critic, denied she has ever "been disrespectful or conducted myself in any way but a professional manner.

"I'm a strong business woman," Cloud said, "but being fair, transparent and direct is not being disrespectful."

She said Morgan-Adams was in no position to judge because she did not participate in the airport board's deliberations.

"Simply, Mayor Helmer felt that he couldn't control my votes on issues," Cloud said. "I only voted to the benefit of both (Prospect Heights) residents as well as (Wheeling) residents. I never cast a vote that would serve one community over another."

In a livestreamed endorsement interview with the Daily Herald Thursday, Helmer said he and Cloud talked about the "consternation" going on at the airport before he received and accepted her resignation letter.

"Things have to be homogeneous in my approach and maybe that wasn't there," Helmer said. "But we did talk and I did explain things to her."

Cloud, who later watched the video of Helmer's interview, said he "blatantly lied" in his description of her resignation.

Cloud's departure from the airport board after her seven-year tenure was raised when Morgan-Adams made the case that her extensive experience makes her uniquely qualified for a seat on the city council.

An attorney, she is a past condo board president, past president of the Prospect Heights Rotary Club and a director with the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Chamber.

As city clerk, she has gone beyond the traditional clerk's role and participated on the strategic water committee and the water committee. She represents Prospect Heights on the Northwest Municipal Conference Legislative Committee.

"I'm lovingly referred to as the 'sixth alderman' because I do get so involved," Morgan-Adams said.

Cloud said she is experienced too.

"I've had numerous meetings with the homeowners association for the Hillcrest area to hear how I as their alderman can give them a seat at the table for our city council to understand their concerns," Cloud said. "To date, my opponent hasn't even made a phone call to their lead representative. As a candidate that's been a volunteer or a member on a board for Prospect Heights for 28 of my 37 years, I feel that my experience and my ability to listen to our residents gives me the upper hand."

The two are competing in the 3rd Ward, Prospect Heights' only contested aldermanic race in the April 2 election.