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
1. New Age says:
July 26, 2010 at 9:01 am
Well, the Romanelli denial tour continues and while he desperately tries to convince everyone his organization doesn’t control the village board, OH OK, we believe you Steve. Not only has Rudy called Romanelli out – Rudy proves Romanelli is being far from honest with the residents. Perhaps Romanelli should be featured on A&E’s show “Intervention” as he clearly is not dealing in reality.
2. Aaron says:
July 26, 2010 at 11:11 am
No big surprise here. Romanelli has denied controlling the village board for over 6 years now. When if comes down to who I believe its Rudy hands down. Rudy served the village and community Romanelli is a blow-heart who obviously cannot be trusted. Promoting as always, his self-serving organization.
3. OTC says:
July 26, 2010 at 12:12 pm
That’s a powerful video coupled with Rudy’s statement. Rudy’s comments are a sharp contradiction to Romanelli’s contention Winfield United never controlled or tell Winfield Village board members what to do. Rudy’s comments verify what a lot of residents have long been saying about Romanelli and Winfield United’s undue influence over the village board and community. Not only that, it shows Romanelli’s true colors.
4. Sundance says:
July 26, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Politics and power — not anything related to improving the community — is what Romanelli and his organization Winfield United have been about from the beginning: Putting the residents in the position of needing the consent of the Winfield United hierarchy and ensuring that the promoters of the power Winfield United, do the governing in perpetuity.
5. Bob L says:
July 26, 2010 at 6:11 pm
That big suckering sound you hear is Romanelli now trying to cover his sorry but.
6. OPP says:
July 26, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Unbelievable listening to this guy. Romanelli’s organization Winfield United used Zegel’s paper to marginalize and demonize anyone who didn’t fall in line with their organization. Even worse is that there is now proof Winfield United welds almost absolute power and control over the village board. It is a very sad commentary on how weak the village boards have been and having an unelected, unaccountable nobody like Romanelli controlling our town.
7. andnothingbutthetruth says:
July 26, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Does romanelli not have an ounce of INTEGRITY? Where does romanelli get off saying there were a lot of inaccuracies in the flyer? Did he forget about all the garbage written in the Winfield Register his organization was responsible for? It’s sickening listening to this guy!
8. LA says:
July 26, 2010 at 10:50 pm
I said it before and I’ll say it again, Romanelli is a political hack who exist to elect and to reelect weak Winfield United candidates who can and will advance the Winfield United platform.
9. SweetHomeWinfield says:
July 27, 2010 at 1:10 am
I’m sick and tried of Romanelli always defending this board just to cover himself and his self-serving organization’s agenda for the town. Look what Romanelli and WU have done to this town. Doesn’t anyone think it’s strange he always has to praise the village board? And those ‘Alice in Wonderland letters’ they send out telling everyone what a great job everyone is doing are nauseating.
In the meantime Wu controls what happens or in our case not happening in town. WU can say all they want but they are anti-business – anti-growth, if the last 6 years of WU control doesn’t prove we need to run Romanelli and WU out of power, than I don’t know what does.
10. The Red Bowtie says:
July 27, 2010 at 7:01 am
The mere fact Romanelli could stand up in a public meeting and complain about Tim Allen wanting to District Winfield so everyone has fair representation, shows you just how despicable Winfield United is. Not only does WU talk out of both sides of their months they talk out of all sides. Think about it, here’s Romanelli standing up in front of his village board with that fore long sad face something he learned from Zegel and stating there are inaccuracies in the document. Really Steve? Why because Districting returns control of the town to the people–where it belongs.
Just out of curiosity Steve, did you happen to read the Winfield Register during its’ final nasty months? Of course you did! The records show your organization Winfield United was the money behind Zegel and the Register. So there’s no question in my mind you are the biggest hypocrite walking around in Winfield and the town needs to rid itself of you and your self-serving organization.
Furthermore, through your funding WU had complicity in Zegel attacking the school superintendent and our fire district. We don’t need an organization like WU or people like you in our town attacking the good people of Winfield. Your organization isn’t what you say it is. You exist only to further your own agendas and like cowards you hide behind your false claim WU is a community organization. It’s all a lie. Now this video along with Rudy’s letter proves WU is full of lies and has been lying from the beginning. I hope your proud of yourself.