I cannot recall the first time I met Steve Romanelli, President of the political action committee Winfield United but I can tell you with absolute certainty if I could go back in time and undo our paths crossing – I would jump at the chance.
You will be shocked to learn as I was what lie beneath the rhetoric of the slick front man for Winfield United. Romanelli speaks about “doing what is right for Winfield,” however Romanelli’s brand of “right” is hostile attacks and threats on anyone or any organization not bowing to his organization’s every whim. It is a calculated and concerted effort to exact revenge on anyone and any group disagreeing with his organizations prejudiced views. All the while hiding behind the veil of being a “community organization.”
The bully on Waterford used the public’s trust and Stan Zegel to retaliate against anyone who has the political guts to stand up to his organization’s egomaniacal edicts. You’ve already witnessed him trying to exact political revenge against residents, volunteers, village board members and most recently Tony Reyes for taking his organization to task for the damage they have caused to the community. Romanelli callously used the Winfield Register to do a hatchet job on Tony Reyes during the 2009 election, all because Reyes exposed Winfield United’s candidate Deborah Birutis as an unqualified follower of Romanelli’s organization, Winfield United.
The fact is, Romanelli used Zegel’s Winfield Register to lead an aggressive attack on a political opponent of Deborah Birutis, a challenger that exposed Birutis’ lack of independence and financial knowledge. Winfield United’s character assassination of Tony Reyes who uncovered the truth behind the lies about Romanelli’s organization might be considered an act of ‘political courage’ in Winfield United circles but for most, it raised troubling questions. Residents, businesses and community organizations are supposed to be protected from political interference or retaliation not buried under Winfield United political revenge.
Romanelli continues to try and defend himself against charges he engaged in political retaliation but his arguments are unsupported and unpersuasive. He continues to hide behind the calculated contributions of his organization Winfield United, while orchestrating a smear campaign to justify his own actions.
These aren’t actions you can believe in — they are actions designed to uproot Winfield’s social and economic well-being and replace them with Romanelli and his organization’s own self-serving interest.
It is obvious through Mr. Romanelli’s actions that he is motivated by inappropriate personal reasons. Romanelli’s soaring rhetoric offers praise to his current crop of hand-picked Winfield “United” village board members. He talks of a village administration of unity, openness, and the willingness to listen that is bring about positive results. In reality, however, he is a self-serving political hack whose influence has robbed the town of its’ spirit, soul and future.
Peter Jensen
6 Responses to High Tea with WU’s Roma-NELLI
Dean K on March 27, 2011 10:15 am at 10:15 am (Edit)
No sooner than Winfield United was in control, businesses were subjected to intimidation campaigns for daring to support any group advocating policies WU did not agree with. For a while, I thought WU was going to hold “Nuremberg-style” trials for those dastardly dissenters who resisted WU’s draconian philosophy on the direction of the village.
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Chance on March 27, 2011 6:43 pm at 6:43 pm (Edit)
Character certainly is in short supply these days in Winfield. It’s so important to have people of good character — having values, having a moral compass which sets clear parameters for what one will, and will not do. Character is all about knowing right from wrong. We often use the word integrity to describe a person of character, a person whose values and principles are above reproach. For us, character also means putting the greater good of the community ahead of self-interest. Its worrying about “what is right’ rather than “who is right.” Character is that distinctive, unfiltered personal voice that cannot be faked or imitated. It is the core essence of who we are.
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WetPaint on March 27, 2011 10:40 pm at 10:40 pm (Edit)
Romanelli and his organization have a people blind spot. Too many self-concerned extremist hanging around. Because of Romanelli’s self-serving interest he has closed his eyes to the incompetence among members of his inner circle, including himself.
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Elin on March 28, 2011 8:47 am at 8:47 am (Edit)
It’s hard to argue with the letter writer on this one. If we look back at the WU imposed boycott of businesses in 2005 and Romanelli’s support of WU member Stan Zegel and their attacks on School Superintendent Diane Cody as well as District 34 as a whole, the Fire Chief, former Village President Rudy Czech, Tony Reyes in 2009 and now the Winfield Junior Woman’s Club it very easy to see where the problem is in town. It’s time we move past the the dividing Steve Romanelli/WU era in Winfield and return the town to the residents!!
Vote for Change on April 5th. Vote WU OUT!! VOTE TIM ALLEN and TONY REYES!!!
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Analyze This on March 28, 2011 10:19 am at 10:19 am (Edit)
After reading this article I’m left shaking my head. We know this isn’t the first time Steve Romanelli and his organization Winfield United have tried to intimidate business owners, community organizations, public servants, and now we can add residents.
This type of “bad” behavior has no place in our community, we need to put a stop to Winfield United’s undue and very damaging influence in our town. The good thing is more and more people are realizing Winfield United is the problem in town and are coming forward to call WU out.
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The Usual Suspects on March 29, 2011 3:06 pm at 3:06 pm (Edit)
The high cost of Winfield United’s bad leadership is well established. In exchange for Winfield United’s support board members have sold the residents out.
Single issue fundamentalism drives Winfield United. Romanelli chose self-interest over resident’s interest – his organization put your values, our community’s future and well-being in jeopardy. All because of the dedication of the directors of Winfield United and other decision makers to the single, all determining goal of building the self-interested political action committee, Winfield United — you cannot count on Romanelli to do the right thing. Winfield United’s culture is driven by a egocentric fundamentalism which is prone to reach into our life’s and shake it up — with dangerous results…… and with bad leadership.
The adverse effects of Steve Romanelli’s organization Winfield United and their self-concerned organizational leaders have done a great deal of harm to Winfield. We must act now to save our community from the clutches of Romanelli — and from Winfield United whose extreme self-interest now imperils our town that one day will be inherited by our children.