Sandy Cole Called Out for Dishonest Campaign Ads

Independent Group Calls Out Sandy Cole for Dishonest Campaign Ads

Longtime incumbent politician Sandy Cole used outdated information to present a misleading view of her record, according to an independent environmental group that sought to set the record straight about Cole’s claim to have a 100% voting record as scored by Illinois Environmental Council (IEC). 

“The IEC scored legislators on fourteen different legislative measures.  Of those, Representative Cole voted against the environmental community seven times.  Her score in 2012 was 50%.” said Jennifer Walling, IEC’s Executive Director.

Walling’s statement directly contradicts Cole’s campaign literature, in which the incumbent claimed to have a “100% voting record” with the IEC. In the same mailer, Cole used endorsement quotes from area newspapers that were two years old, presenting the information as if it pertained to the current election. Cole specifically included an old endorsement from the Chicago Tribune, but the truth is the Tribune has endorsed her opponent, Avon Township Supervisor Sam Yingling, in this election.

“Over the past several months I have been working very hard to earn the votes of area residents with my honest record of lowering Township tax levies and giving back $25,000 in my salary because it was the right thing to do,” Yingling said. “Representative Cole has ignored her constituents and failed to work to earn their support. She even voted against legislation that would lower the property tax burden. Now that she is being challenged on her poor record, she is resorting to lies and distortions. The voters deserve better.”  

Cole’s record includes voting against a ban on new, potentially toxic landfills, as well as voting against a measure that would have protected parks and open spaces. In addition to environmental votes, Cole also missed votes to ban more dirty coal plants and to provide property tax relief to veterans.