Election Interference in the News
Below are links to various articles in the press about election interference and ethics issues. CN = Courier News, DH = Daily Herald, DS = Daily Southtown, NWH = Northwest Herald, PP = Pioneer Press
Huntley D-158 Board VP Kim Skaja Advocating a Position as a Board Member
Harrison D-36 BoE President Sue Murphy "Prays" for Tax Increase Referendum Passage
McHenry D-15 and Kaneland D-302 Heed Ethics Ordinance
Des Plaines D-62 Uses District Facilities to Push Tax Increase Referendum
Dalton-Riverdale D-148 Teachers and Staff Campaign Heavily Among Students
Investigation of Alleged Ethics Violation by Carpentersville D-300 Board Member Mary Warren
Huntley D-158 Board VP Kim Skaja Advocating a Position as a Board Member
In general, referendum supporters in the few districts that approved education fund referendums in the November 2, 2004, general election pulled out all the stops -- raising tens of thousands of dollars (including such donors as housing developers, firms doing business with the district, and the district superintendent), tearing up Vote No signs, disrupting meetings held by referendum opponents, and harassing people campaigning against the referendum. D-158 was a prime example.
NWH October 21, 2004 - Huntley D-158 BoE VP Kim Skaja predicts dark skies if the referendum fails
DH October 19, 2004 - Huntley D-158 BoE VP Kim Skaja says informational meetings are to "see to it that the referendum passes"
Harrison D-36 BoE President "Prays" for Tax Increase Referendum Passage
NWH October 26, 2004 - Harrison D-36 Board President Sue Murphy "prays" for tax increase referendum passage
McHenry D-15 and Kaneland D-302 Heed Ethics Ordinance
DH October 11, 2004 - Kaneland D-302 referendum supporters and district err on the side of caution
NWH September 15, 2004 - McHenry D-15 attorney explains to BoE and administrators what they can and can't do
Glenbard D-87 Use of School Facilities, Contributors with Potential Conflict of Interest, Push Referendum
DH October 29, 2004 - Firms doing business with D-87 and the teacher union contribute to referendum support group
DH October 25, 2004 - D-87 hosts referendum support rally at school football stadium
Des Plaines D-62 Uses District Facilities to Push Tax Increase Referendum
DH October 22, 2004 - D-62 employees produce pro-referendum video and air on cable television
DH June 22, 2004 - D-62 referendum support group initially uses district offices and phones to start campaign
Dalton-Riverdale D-148 Teachers and Staff Campaign Heavily Among Students
DS November 4, 2004 - Teachers, other school staff campaign heavily among students to get parents to approve the referendum
Investigation of Alleged Ethics Violation by Carpentersville D-300 Board Member Mary Warren
PP November 4, 2004 - D-300 BoE asks Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to step into Warren case
NWH October 28, 2004 - D-300 BoE considers reviewing Warren complaint in closed meeting
NWH October 27, 2004 - D-300 BoE awaits Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's decision on Warren case
CN October 27, 2004 - D-300 BoE forms ethics panel with non-board members for quorum to review Warren case
DH October 25, 2004 - D-300 BoE reverses initial decision to not investigate Warren actions after complainant persists
NWH October 3, 2004 - D-300 BoE member Warren says complainant has a vendetta against her, complaint details
For more information on these web pages or to submit examples of election interference in your district, contact Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes.
CRAFT believes public school funds or resources should *not* be used to educate the public on political issues.
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