Where’s Stanley?

I am looking for a little help to win an argument. You may not know but I am in frequent contact with Steve Romanelli President of Winfield United and we have long rambling emails that go back and forth for days. He mentioned to me today that he wants me to know that Stanley Zegel is NOT, REPEAT NOT part of Winfield United.

Stanley Zegel is clearly a destructive wing-nut and has been like a toxic sludge coating everything political in this town. We all know that Stanley’s propaganda tool, “The Winfield Register” was carrying the water for Winfield United in this last election. We know it was largely comprised of misleading lies with a veneer of plausibility and unfortunately was an effective tool for the election and re-election of Winfield United preferred candidates. We found out that Winfield United had $32,000 it raised from a two block radius on Washington Street and Marion Street that it spent, in large part, with Stanley and his (intellectually) bankrupt news-rag. I also know from my close association with Erik Spande, that Stanley Zegel was at the annual fundraiser before the 2008 election for Winfield United. Erik Spande also tells me Stan Zegel was at the victory party at Caliendo’s after the election.

However, Steven J. Romanelli wants us to believe that Stanley Zegel is persona non-gratta at Winfield United events. Further, he wants us to believe that Stanley is not now and has never been a member of Winfield United. Remember, this is the same guy who is very concerned with people “Lying” about him and Winfield United.

Because Steve Romanelli is such a huge fan of www.winfield411.com he reads it every day. I was wondering if you could point out any times you have seen the WU-tang Clan (Winfield United) in the presence of Stanley Zegel, in and around town. I am thinking places like Einstein’s Bagel Shop on Saturdays or what you have heard through the grapevine. Any anecdotes you share in the comments below will be much appreciated and remember, keep it anonymous, Steve loves that.

Muwahahaha.

Video: WU’s Romanelli Exposed!

Editors Note: This recently discovered video showing Steve Romanelli, President of Winfield United addressing  the Winfield Village Board in May 2010 about his organization’s relationship with that same village board.

Romanelli is hard at work as he took time once again to whitewash or ignore the truth in order to protect Winfield United’s control of the Winfield Village Board. Listen at the very end of Romanelli’s “heartfelt” speech when he states:

“as the President of Winfield United we have NEVER controlled the board (Winfield Village Board) have NEVER told anyone on this board, what to do or not to do.” –Steve Romanelli, President Winfield United

Mr. Czech’s village board speech is indisputable evidence despite Romanelli’s denial of illicit coordination between Winfield United and the Winfield Village Board that Winfield United does in fact weld considerable influence and authority over the village board and their decisions.

We have re-posted former Winfield Village President Rudy Czech’s board speech [Go to the highlighted portions for the short version] he gave at his final board meeting in April 2009.

The video of Winfield United’s Steve Romanelli and Mr. Czech’s speech, speak for themselves.

Rudy Czech’s Final Village Board Speech:

First I would like to congratulate Trustee Deborah Birutis,Trustee Jack Bajor, Trustee Joel Kunesh and Jay Olson on their election wins. Also Dan Conley and Clerk Anne Mareachen. I’m sure they will all do a great job in their respective offices. It was an interesting election, of which I would like to briefly comment on.

While I accept the results I do feel I need to address some misinformation that was thrown about. Yes, the residents clearly and overwhelmingly showed they wanted me out, I got the message loud and clear. However I do question how they arrived at that conclusion. I thought most residents were not in favor of vehicle stickers – I guess I was wrong, since winning candidates have stated at board meetings their favoring them, and rec’d. over 1,000 votes each. So I guess many residents support the sticker program. I have never said I supported them, however both the Public Works Committee and the Finance Committee have discussed them and recommended that the Village Board review and discuss the issue. This issue was tabled, not voted on, which means it is still out there.

The issue of 4 village managers….I have had one, Bill Barlow. Jeff Moline was the previous Manager. Gordon Cole, Bruce Bonebrake & Phil Page were Interim Managers. Naperville had an interim for a year, recently hiring a new Village Manager.

I guess I underestimated the power of the force, the Winfield United Political Organization. Although I was supported by this organization 4 years ago, they dropped support for me last August with no explanation. They solicited candidates to be interviewed for their endorsement, yet refused to interview me. I can only assume it was because I nominated John Karwoski and then former mayor John Kirschbaum to the Plan Commission. Both of these appointments failed. After I nominated John Karwoski and the motion died for a lack of a second, I had a visitor come to my office. There I was shown the election tally for 2005 and reminded me who all supported me and what was I thinking of.

I was attempting to unify the town, the different factions that exist in the community. That’s what I was thinking. I was blocked by Winfield United Board members. OR it could have been my remark that Roosevelt Rd. needs to be looked at for development of some kind to bring in revenue, since most of it is unincorporated. If we don’t annex it, West Chicago surely will. I don’t think that went well within the Winfield United Organization, in fact I know it didn’t. I also attempted to appoint Tim Allen to a vacant Trustee position. Besides being told I would not have the votes to appoint him, I was sent an e-mail by a WU member and told that I lost their support when I considered Tim Allen’s nomination to the Board.

I bring this up for a reason. I was elected 4 years ago to represent the entire town, not just the Winfield United Political Party. When I strayed from their beliefs, I was removed. To prove me wrong on this statement, I’m sure, no I’m positive attempts will be made to unify the town and with WU’s blessing, successful appointments will be made to represent all the political factions that are in Winfield, which is great but at the end of the day, the Winfield United Political organization will still maintain control of the Board. And rightfully so, they won. The campaign literature for some of the winning candidates was paid for by the Winfield United Political Organization. That’s no secret. It would be the same as if a political party (Dem or Rep) did it. So I recognize that fact. WU spent a lot of money, but so did the other candidates. This has to have been the most expensive election in Winfield history.

The Winfield United Political Party has succeeded in winning the last 3 consecutive elections 05, 07 & 09. and has made their presence known, I do congratulate the Winfield United Organization on another election win but want to remind everyone that they are the ones who really hold the power. If they don’t like you or you disagree with them, they’ll remove you. I’m a testimonial to that.

But who was the real winner…..the man behind the curtain. The great and powerful Winfield wizard of politics….Stan Zegel. Wait, is he really behind a curtain, am I telling you anything new? Stan has been a powerful force in Winfield politics for years and now has a newspaper at his disposal. Stan has succeeded in electing the last 4 mayors. I commend him for his success rate, it’s awesome. He is a master at this. Stan, let me say, I congratulate you on another successful win, you did it again. The irony of it is his only unsuccessful candidate was himself, when he ran in 2001. I’ve known Stan for almost 20 years. He was instrumental in helping me get on the Board in 1991 and of course I thank him for that. But when he wants you off the board – watch out. His success rate there is just as good.

I’ve had a bulls eye on my back for months now and Stan’s Winfield Register has certainly helped keep it there. Issue after Issue attacked me, making me look totally incompetent. I used to say, If I believed everything that was written about me, I wouldn’t vote for me either. Well obviously people did believe it and that’s what I fear. Information that I didn’t correct was believed. Articles written with no signature or just “Our Fine Staff”. Who wrote these? Sensational headlines such as “Mayor Prays, Public Pays” regarding the Pedestrian Underpass helped to destroy my credibility…”the underpass just won’t die”…..and on and on it went. “Village To Stick It To Residents” regarding the vehicle sticker issue. Even Congressman Peter Roskam’s mailing was associated as being unethical yet Roskam’s staff did the same thing for over 20 other mayors.

I can’t help believe that Dist. 34 is losing a good superintendent because of the continuous attacks on her credibility. Why would she stay here? Why would anyone who reads month after month, year after year constant editorializing and critiquing of their performance as an administrator with a perception of negative performance.

Stan, if your out there watching, which I’m sure you are, I ask you on behalf of countless residents, to please lighten up on your editorializing and to please be more objective in your articles. When you stood at the Metra Train Station and passed out flyers to commuters regarding the proposed underpass you once again presented slanted and misleading information. How many owners of a newspaper do this? When you called me and Angel Oakley and asked us to drop out of the mayoral race to improve your favored candidate Deborah Birutis’ chances of beating Tony Reyes you once again brought attention to your non-objective position. How could you possibly say you are objective and endorse her when you do that? How many owners of a newspaper do that? I don’t recall hearing that the Daily Herald asked my opponents to withdraw after I got their endorsement.

I could go on and on about the attacks on me from Stan’s newsletter but we’d. be here for hours. A number of residents have voiced concerns over the Village giving the Register the rights to publish Public Hearing notices. They have implied that my administration is doing this because Stan and I are such good friends and that I want to help a friend. Nothing could be farther from the truth, believe me. To them I say, where have you been for the last 2 years with his ruthless attacks on me. Stan has said that I’m just too nice of a guy and not a good administrator, well maybe he’s right. I was too nice of guy by letting his attacks on me go on without a challenge. I should of stood up to Stan Zegel in every issue. In the end, if you are planning on running for Village President, you won’t be successful without Stan Zegel’s endorsement and that’s a fact.

So as to not just vent on Stan’s Register, I would also recommend that the Daily Herald consider getting out of the “endorsement” business. I’ve thought about this for awhile and have even told them so. It really is a waste of time. Some candidates never go in for the endorsement interview but win their elections. The candidates really should seek the endorsement of the Winfield United Political Party, that obviously carries more wait in
Winfield elections.

I wanted to make sure some of these election-related issues were adequately addressed and information corrected before we close the door on this election. I’m sure this will be perceived as “whining” because I lost but whatever, I felt I needed to say this.

Rudy Czech
Village Board Meeting
April 16, 2009

Rudy Czech’s Final Board Speech

Editor’s Note: Many resident did not have the opportunity to hear to Mr. Czech’s final speech as Winfield Village President, so we have reprinted the speech in its’ entirety (unedited) for everyone to read.   In light of Mr. Allen’s most recent flier on Winfield United, it only seemed appropriate to make Mr. Czech’s farewell speech available.  There are many parallels between  Mr. Czech’s speech and Mr. Allen’s flier, along with some very troubling observations made by Mr. Czech regarding his one-time supporters, Winfield United.  He also provides some very valuable in-sight into how Winfield United maintains control.

First I would like to congratulate Trustee Deborah Birutis,Trustee Jack Bajor, Trustee Joel Kunesh and Jay Olson on their election wins. Also Dan Conley and Clerk Anne Mareachen. I’m sure they will all do a great job in their respective offices. It was an interesting election, of which I would like to briefly comment on.

While I accept the results I do feel I need to address some misinformation that was thrown about. Yes, the residents clearly and overwhelmingly showed they wanted me out, I got the message loud and clear. However I do question how they arrived at that conclusion. I thought most residents were not in favor of vehicle stickers – I guess I was wrong, since winning candidates have stated at board meetings their favoring them, and rec’d. over 1,000 votes each. So I guess many residents support the sticker program. I have never said I supported them, however both the Public Works Committee and the Finance Committee have discussed them and recommended that the Village Board review and discuss the issue. This issue was tabled, not voted on, which means it is still out there.

The issue of 4 village managers….I have had one, Bill Barlow. Jeff Moline was the previous Manager. Gordon Cole, Bruce Bonebrake & Phil Page were Interim Managers. Naperville had an interim for a year, recently hiring a new Village Manager.

I guess I underestimated the power of the force, the Winfield United Political Organization. Although I was supported by this organization 4 years ago, they dropped support for me last August with no explanation. They solicited candidates to be interviewed for their endorsement, yet refused to interview me. I can only assume it was because I nominated John Karwoski and then former mayor John Kirschbaum to the Plan Commission. Both of these appointments failed. After I nominated John Karwoski and the motion died for a lack of a second, I had a visitor come to my office. There I was shown the election tally for 2005 and reminded me who all supported me and what was I thinking of.

I was attempting to unify the town, the different factions that exist in the community. That’s what I was thinking. I was blocked by Winfield United Board members. OR it could have been my remark that Roosevelt Rd. needs to be looked at for development of some kind to bring in revenue, since most of it is unincorporated. If we don’t annex it, West Chicago surely will. I don’t think that went well within the Winfield United Organization, in fact I know it didn’t. I also attempted to appoint Tim Allen to a vacant Trustee position. Besides being told I would not have the votes to appoint him, I was sent an e-mail by a WU member and told that I lost their support when I considered Tim Allen’s nomination to the Board.

I bring this up for a reason. I was elected 4 years ago to represent the entire town, not just the Winfield United Political Party. When I strayed from their beliefs, I was removed. To prove me wrong on this statement, I’m sure, no I’m positive attempts will be made to unify the town and with WU’s blessing, successful appointments will be made to represent all the political factions that are in Winfield, which is great but at the end of the day, the Winfield United Political organization will still maintain control of the Board. And rightfully so, they won. The campaign literature for some of the winning candidates was paid for by the Winfield United Political Organization. That’s no secret. It would be the same as if a political party (Dem or Rep) did it. So I recognize that fact. WU spent a lot of money, but so did the other candidates. This has to have been the most expensive election in Winfield history.

The Winfield United Political Party has succeeded in winning the last 3 consecutive elections 05, 07 & 09. and has made their presence known, I do congratulate the Winfield United Organization on another election win but want to remind everyone that they are the ones who really hold the power. If they don’t like you or you disagree with them, they’ll remove you. I’m a testimonial to that.

But who was the real winner…..the man behind the curtain. The great and powerful Winfield wizard of politics….Stan Zegel. Wait, is he really behind a curtain, am I telling you anything new? Stan has been a powerful force in Winfield politics for years and now has a newspaper at his disposal. Stan has succeeded in electing the last 4 mayors. I commend him for his success rate, it’s awesome. He is a master at this. Stan, let me say, I congratulate you on another successful win, you did it again. The irony of it is his only unsuccessful candidate was himself, when he ran in 2001. I’ve known Stan for almost 20 years. He was instrumental in helping me get on the Board in 1991 and of course I thank him for that. But when he wants you off the board – watch out. His success rate there is just as good.

I’ve had a bulls eye on my back for months now and Stan’s Winfield Register has certainly helped keep it there. Issue after Issue attacked me, making me look totally incompetent. I used to say, If I believed everything that was written about me, I wouldn’t vote for me either. Well obviously people did believe it and that’s what I fear. Information that I didn’t correct was believed. Articles written with no signature or just “Our Fine Staff”. Who wrote these? Sensational headlines such as “Mayor Prays, Public Pays” regarding the Pedestrian Underpass helped to destroy my credibility…”the underpass just won’t die”…..and on and on it went. “Village To Stick It To Residents” regarding the vehicle sticker issue. Even Congressman Peter Roskam’s mailing was associated as being unethical yet Roskam’s staff did the same thing for over 20 other mayors.

I can’t help believe that Dist. 34 is losing a good superintendent because of the continuous attacks on her credibility. Why would she stay here? Why would anyone who reads month after month, year after year constant editorializing and critiquing of their performance as an administrator with a perception of negative performance.

Stan, if your out there watching, which I’m sure you are, I ask you on behalf of countless residents, to please lighten up on your editorializing and to please be more objective in your articles. When you stood at the Metra Train Station and passed out flyers to commuters regarding the proposed underpass you once again presented slanted and misleading information. How many owners of a newspaper do this? When you called me and Angel Oakley and asked us to drop out of the mayoral race to improve your favored candidate Deborah Birutis’ chances of beating Tony Reyes you once again brought attention to your non-objective position. How could you possibly say you are objective and endorse her when you do that? How many owners of a newspaper do that? I don’t recall hearing that the Daily Herald asked my opponents to withdraw after I got their endorsement.

I could go on and on about the attacks on me from Stan’s newsletter but we’d. be here for hours. A number of residents have voiced concerns over the Village giving the Register the rights to publish Public Hearing notices. They have implied that my administration is doing this because Stan and I are such good friends and that I want to help a friend. Nothing could be farther from the truth, believe me. To them I say, where have you been for the last 2 years with his ruthless attacks on me. Stan has said that I’m just too nice of a guy and not a good administrator, well maybe he’s right. I was too nice of guy by letting his attacks on me go on without a challenge. I should of stood up to Stan Zegel in every issue. In the end, if you are planning on running for Village President, you won’t be successful without Stan Zegel’s endorsement and that’s a fact.

So as to not just vent on Stan’s Register, I would also recommend that the Daily Herald consider getting out of the “endorsement” business. I’ve thought about this for awhile and have even told them so. It really is a waste of time. Some candidates never go in for the endorsement interview but win their elections. The candidates really should seek the endorsement of the Winfield United Political Party, that obviously carries more wait in
Winfield elections.

I wanted to make sure some of these election-related issues were adequately addressed and information corrected before we close the door on this election. I’m sure this will be perceived as “whining” because I lost but whatever, I felt I needed to say this.

Rudy Czech
Village Board Meeting
April 16, 2009

Romanell Rants Part II

Editors Note: The following is a continuing series of email exchanges between Tim Allen and the President of the political action committee Winfield United, who is now going by the name Steve J Romanelli. The emails were forwarded to us by Mr. Allen with his permission to post them for everyone to read.

Email 5

Tim,

Now now…….there are some nice compliments in what I sent so you can hide some in there as well. Please remember, I have not, nor will I ever run for public office so I am not sure what was self serving for me in Stan’s paper. Say what you want about Stan, but at least he had the balls to print anyone’s comments who were in opposition to him so long as they identified themselves. Simple concept. Unfortunately, so many of those who choose to attack on 411 are cowards and need to hide behind someone else’s skirt. These are YOUR supporters now and you say you need to speak with them on a daily basis. You seriously can’t believe 411 is as good as it gets.

I have no problem offering my opinion and I don’t need to head fake anyone. I do believe there are so many good people in our village who have donated their time and efforts to best serve the village. They need to be supported for doing their best, not blatantly attacked. Winfield411 and its founders have been spewing the same garbage for years. Their sole purpose is to be disruptive and destructive, without consideration for truth or accountability.  Yet, you believe this is your best avenue to talk to the residents of Winfield. Seriously, you believe this.

You really do not know me and you certainly do not know Winfield United. We do not run the village, contrary to some people’s distorted opinion, and while we support a strong Town Center and certainly want the village to be successful, our best support is for keeping good, honest people in office who will do their best to serve the village first and foremost.

You and I will most likely not see eye to eye on many issues, but that does not matter. What matters to me is Winfield. If you honestly share that feeling then maybe there is some common cause that will find us working together. The Riverwalk is where my focus will be for now.

Steve J. Romanelli

Email 6

Steve, you took too long to get back to me before I had already sent this on to 411. I didn’t think you added anything of value with your final reply so I just let it go. I apologize if you feel that I somehow misrepresented our email exchange.

-Tim

Email 7

I do give you credit for standing up for what you believe, even if I don’t always agree with it. I believe that separates you and I from others.

Did you author the mailing? I did not see your signature, though I saw your email promoting the debate club.

Are you interested in any facts or are you set in your ways to distort them?

Steve J. Romanelli

Email 8

Steve,

Thanks for the compliment. I like to think of myself as tenacious. Yes I authored the mailing. I guess I thought that the “author” part was implied by the fact that the email address that was on there to RSVP for the Debate was TimAllen57@Gmail.com. I also put my phone number on there with a message from yours truly for anyone that rang me. You are the second person that thought it was anonymous so I apologize for the confusion. I take credit and blame for everything I do. Including but not limited to my snark of trustee Bajor. I assume that because of your trolling of 411 that you have seen it?

I am very interested in the facts. I would love to do a write up for 411 and god’s honest truth I was going to wait to contact you about it until I had the DVD of the meeting. I was planning to post your public comment to youtube and then send you a link asking you to elaborate. Unfortunately, the DVD has not been forthcoming yet so I have not contacted you yet.

Would you like to wait to see your comments again in video? Then you can fill in any gaps that may have been left unspackled?

I don’t really think I distorted anything. I got your donor list off the State of Illinois website. I plotted the addresses on Google earth. I wrote an editorial which links to a factual Daily Herald article and then issued a call to action. This wasn’t very Zegel-esque. It was factual up to the editorial which is of course my opinion and can only be assailed with another opinion. So to that end, you can send out your own mailer.

Seriously Steve, I like you as a person and I will tell you the same thing that I told Birutis. This isn’t about you. You can lie to me, cheat, steal or be a nice guy, feed the poor and clothe the naked and I will treat you nicely when I meet you and shake your hand at the public meetings. My problem is with your policies and with WU’s policies (and by extension Birutis’ policies). I believe that as a person you are unassailable until you step into the cage match of ideas. At that point, your policies, motivations and actions are all fair game. I am certain I can still work with you, or Birutis for that matter on any one of your charitable or ecological endeavors. I can clearly see the good that WU does for the village through it’s civic arm. But, your policies have coalesced around a zero growth group of people that is starving the town of revenue. Some of the zero growthers are interested in keeping Winfield as Mayberry for nostalgic reasons and some are interested in zero growth because it is in their back yards. As evidenced by your money donors, there is a big contingent of wealthy NIMBY’s. Those people are causing for a wealth transfer payment between the rest of this town and them when they ask for us tax payers to pony up instead of using our resources wisely and developing them into revenue streams for the town. Like you, I can’t stand bullies. How ironic.

I may be totally wrong and you may be totally right. This town might not want to grow or change or develop one stitch of land and if this is the case, I will learn my lesson and keep my mouth shut from that point forward. However, if ever there was a time for change it is right now. I have made my positions open and notorious. I feel badly that anonymous people leave caustic comments on news outlet comment boards but you have to keep in mind that you were the one that stepped into the limelight.

I hope that you can understand that if el zapato en el otro pie that you would be (and will be at some point) doing the same thing to me. My intentions are pure, there is nothing in this for me personally other than good governance, a sound budget and discretionary operating capital.

-Tim

Email 9

You should go check the contributor names for this group. This was the 2005 election. When you list $31,000 or so of WUPC for the last nearly 6 years, this year constituted 60% due to the nature of that election and the amount that was being spent by outside developers and their supporters to fund Winfield candidates. Think this was open and honest government?

They spent nearly $45,000 during the same election year that WUPC spent about $19,000. Of course money cannot “buy” an election when you have bad candidates or a bad message. If you are so concerned about the truth and the facts it would be worth your while. I have all of the names of the contributors but thought you might want to research on your own since you don’t believe things I have to say. (Winfield residents do not appear in the top contributors)

If you care about the truth, there are plenty of other similar reasons why people in the village get involved. If you just care about your own personal ego being satisfied and serving your small group of “advisors”, keep doing the same things you are doing now.

Steve J. Romanelli

Email 10

Steve,

Clearly you are correct. Luckily, I am not them so your point is a little irrelevant.

I trust that because of your attachment I can count on your unwavering support for political districting to stamp out this kind of malignancy upon our democracy. I can see the headline now. Tim Allen and Steve Romanelli work to district Winfield to prevent both Klein Creek on the North and Washington Street / Marion Road on the South from dominating Winfield politics.

If you don’t mind, I will await the changes to your website home page before I take the picture, shaking your hand, for the press.

-Tim

BTW: You hurt my feelings suggesting that I have advisors. What you are seeing here is pure unadulterated political novice going on… I’ll make my own mistakes.

Editors Note:

Contrary to the self-serving rantings of  Steve J Romanelli, President of the political action committee Winfield United, Winfield411/blog is an information blog publication that goes against the grain and tells stories that many in power and especially Romanelli’s organization Winfield United would prefer to be kept secret.

Since our founding, we have generated a truthful counter-narrative to the false narrative that has long dominated Winfield.  We’ve done this by bringing together columnists, editorial writers and residents, who dared tell the unwelcome truths about those in control of our town.

CDH ‘welfare’ idea typical myopia

Plato & Winfield

In “The Republic,”  Plato discusses how people should govern their affairs and examines justice. He concludes that only people who are “just” are in the end, happy.

Among Plato’s many observations is government exists to serve the people (not the other way around) and education from a person’s earliest years, is crucial to achieve an ideal government.

Few people have the ability to lead, he says, and those who do should be highly educated, especially in mathematics, which is rooted in absolute truths and correct answers.  Our leaders should be chosen from the best of the best and should avoid debate at too early of an age, lest they, “argue for amusement, and are always contradicting and refuting others, “like puppy dogs [who] rejoice in pulling and tearing at all who come near them.”

Plato believed leaders must avoid undue influences and ego in politics, but merely practice “politics and governing for the public good, not as though they were performing some heroic action, but simply as a matter of duty.”

Who can argue with Plato’s maxim that “the state in which the rulers are most reluctant to govern is always the best and most quietly governed, and the state in which they are the most eager, the worst”

Last month I conducted an informal survey of some of Winfield’s longtime residents, who would have what it takes to be fine elected officials.

They are people who care deeply about their community; they maintain respect for the residents, they struggle with the complex issues facing the town, they clearly have the community’s interest above their own — the type of people I think Plato might have been talking about.

____________________________

Who can argue with Plato’s

maxim that “the state in which

the rulers are most reluctant to

govern is always the best and

most quietly governed, and the

state in which they are the most

eager, the worst’

___________________________

“Would you ever run for public office here in Winfield?” was the question. Though not surprising but certainly dismaying, the overwhelming response, was resounding “no” after “no.”

When asked to explain, most said something like, “Why would I put myself through that?” or “Why would I ever put my family through that?” or “You can’t get elected in this town unless you sell your soul.”

One resident pointed out that when someone runs for elected office in Winfield, they become a target for the worst imaginable types of attacks.  Another described the recently defunct newspaper called The Winfield Register, funded in part or in whole by the political action committee, Winfield United. Along with its poison penned editor Stanley Zegel [Winfield's Citizen Pain] who week after week singled out candidates in opposition to Winfield United’s hand-picked slate and subjected them to a constant barrage of personal attacks, half-truths, distortions, and in many cases outright lies. (apparently, Winfield United is unmoved by the word “united” in their name)

Others still were deterred by a concern that undertaking to serve would place them in the cauldron of Winfield United politics, around DuPage County considered among the most caustic and self-serving of all political organizations.

Certainly, many who serve are wise and honorable and humble. But why is it Winfield seems to elect so many leaders motivated more by self-interest than self-sacrifice? Is it a sheer statistical question?

In other words, will there always be some percentage of elected officials who will cast aside the very people they have taken an oath to serve? Or is it something more, that our current political atmosphere in Winfield repels the very people Plato says ought to occupy these positions of great responsibility. While attracting those we don’t want, weak individuals who are self-serving, or worse, individuals who put others interest ahead of the people’s interest. Or is the political environment in Winfield all about control and winning at all cost trumps everything else?

As Plato said, our world would benefit if those we elect to public office were tested a little more in the fires of life’s temptations and served a little more reluctantly and with a little less ego and a little more sense of duty. Indeed shouldn’t our elected officials be honest and loyal to the citizens? And if the citizens don’t demand honesty and loyalty, then who will?

Daily Herald Articles on Winfield

Two articles appeared in the Daily Herald today, the first is an article on the upcoming Road Referendum and second is a rebuttal by Stan Zegel to a recently published article by Tim Allen concerning Central DuPage Hospital’s status in Winfield. We thought you would find them interesting reading including the comment section.

Referendum opponent wants to debate Winfield officials

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=374419

CDH should contribute for roads

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=374355

CDH and the Seven Stages of Grief

http://winfield411.com/blog/?p=971

Birutis Pushes Zegel For DWC Seat

Word out of DuPage County is Winfield Village President Deborah Birutis is pushing her former campaign manager and Winfield United member Stanley Zegel to replace Carol Stream Village President Frank Saverino on the DuPage Water Commission. The embattled water commission has been fraught with financial problems after the discovery of at least 19 million dollars which had been depleted from their reserve fund.

Ms. Birutis has made several trips to the DuPage County in the hope of getting her political adviser Stanley Zegel appointed to the District 6 seat if Mr. Saverino is removed amidst the scandal. Zegel, since Birutis’ election has his hands in everything from the village’s finances to the police department has contributed to Winfield’s financial anguish.

It’s clear to most everyone involved that Birutis is trying to pay back Zegel the former editor of the now defunct “slam publication” The Winfield Register, for helping her get elected. But trying to slide Zegel in, someone not elected by the people and categorically unqualified to hold the position for political payback is an affront to all the residents.

Birutis’ attempt to get Zegel appointed should be met with stiff resistance from all concerned. First of all, Zegel lacks any understanding of key financial concepts and his financial comprehension is non-existent. The absolute last thing the troubled DuPage Water Commission needs is another member who does not possess a financial awareness. Furthermore because  Zegel is on well and septic he is not even a customer of the DuPage Water Commission making him in our opinion, ineligible to sit on the water commission. The burning question is, why would the DuPage Water Commission and their customers want someone sitting on the commission who does not have any skin in the game authoring policy and rate increases?

Birutis is trying to throw her political weight around — but she has none. It’s hard for anyone to take Birutis seriously let alone leaders within DuPage County. However, maybe Winfield would be better off if the rest of the county had to do some time with Winfield’s ‘Citizen Pain’  http://winfield411.com/blog/?p=1140 then maybe the community would finally have a chance to breath a little.

Winfield’s Citizen Pain

One would think a past trustee and one time candidate for village president would retire from small town public life to become an elder statesman of local politics. A sort of present day Benjamin Franklin whose political time had passed but whose institutional memory, universal respect and gravitas could unite warring factions and bring peace and clarity to difficult issues. If one was thinking about former Trustee Stan Zegel as this elder statesman, one would be deeply mistaken.

During the most recent town hall meeting we heard about the Winfield Road referendum which is coming to a ballot box near you this November. In the meeting we discussed the sorry state of Winfield’s roads, our options available to fix the roads and our options to create sustainable revenue sources so our budget and our town is never caught with it’s proverbial pants down again. Of the many ideas bandied about, one was leveled by Stan Zegel who suggested we balkanize our town into neighborhoods and make each neighborhood responsible for their own streets. Taken at face value, it’s a horrible idea. The costs for implementation and the logistics of yearly polling of neighborhood residents to see if they are finally ready to pay for the roads outside their home should be daunting enough. It would have the added benefit of both letting the current trustees off the hook for a complete lack of budgetary foresight while pitting neighbor against neighbor in deciding exactly when they collectively need to fork over the requisite dollars to fix the roads.

If you actually knew Stan Zegel and knew where he lives you would be able to see his suggestion in a whole new, self-serving light. Stan lives on a road that is maintained by the county and was re-surfaced last year. So if the Zegel plan was adopted, he would conveniently be excluded from any tax increase. So much for statesmanlike magnanimity.

Benjamin Franklin was a publisher among other things. Stan Zegel shares this profession with Franklin but I find him to be more like the lead character in the 1941 classic movie “Citizen Kane.” In a loose depiction of the life of William Randolph Hurst, the newspaper man Charles Foster Kane is shown to be an abandoned, lonely boy who grows up to be an isolated, needy man. The story line reveals Kane to be arrogant, thoughtless, morally bankrupt, desperate for attention, and to be incapable of giving love.

In a recent conversation with Barry Dredze, editor of the “Winfield Post”, Barry suggested the purpose of his paper was to rebuild “Good Will between the citizens of Winfield” that was left lacking in the wake of Stan Zegel’s publication.

Good Will in Winfield?

Good ol’ William Goode of Winfield. Yes, I believe the last time I saw the lifeless carcass of his body politic it was crushed and crumpled, feted and festering in the bottom of a smoking crater of a pothole on Winfield Road. It had been scorched by vitriol, tormented by vindictive and injected with venom from Stan’s poisoned pen to ultimately be run over by the “Winfield Register” and left to die right next to a leaky water main in a hole too deep to fill with a whole dump truck load of hyperbole and alliteration.

Stan’s publication “The Winfield Register” went bankrupt shortly after the elections in 2009 but one could easily say it was bankrupt from the first day it was printed. Stan Zegel is Winfield’s own Charles Foster Kane, our Citizen Pain.