Politics & Government

Complaint Filed Against Avon Action Slate Regarding Township Newsletter

"This (is a) blatant misuse of taxpayers' money," said Avon Township Trustee Bill McNeill.

Avon Township Trustees Bill McNeill and Douglas Raul Williams have filed a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections, alleging that the Avon Action slate has violated the campaign disclosure act in regard to a recently-mailed Avon Township newsletter.

In a press release, the two trustees allege that Avon Action—including Township Supervisor Lisa Rusch, Clerk Elona Hamilton, Assessor Chris Ditton and Highway Commissioner Tom Brust, who are all named in the complaint—used taxpayer money to print and mail a political mailing.


The "Complaint for Violation of the Campaign Disclosure Act," filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections, alleges that Avon Action and the four people mentioned above: failed to include proper notice on political mailing, used public funds to print and mail political mailing, and failed to report in-kind contribution in excess of $1,000.

"There is absolutely no merit or truth to Doug Williams' complaints," said Rusch. "The newsletter was not paid for by the township fund as he alleges, nor was there anything improper. This was paid for with funds that were specifically designated for a newsletter that, among other things, was designed to notify voters about the upcoming election."

"In the same period, I have received newsletters from the school board and the library board. What's ironic is that Dan Venturi, who notarized Doug Williams' complaints, is running for supervisor in Lake Villa Township and is on the cover (of a newsletter)," said Rusch. "This is just another desperate attack by a desperate person. Doug will do anything to get attention and discredit our record. He is clearly having trouble running on the issues. And the fact that we are the only local government that has lowered taxes, cut spending, returned salary and expanded services to the most vulnerable in our community."

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The Illinois State Board of Elections confirmed Tuesday that they have received the complaint. The next steps could include a preliminary hearing, the assignment of a hearing officer, an investigation into the complaint and a hearing to determine its validity.

"This (is a) blatant misuse of taxpayers' money," McNeill said in a press release. He and Williams are both seeking re-election but are running with separate groups, McNeill with Avon Strong and Williams with Avon Independents.

According to the complaint filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections, "in recent history it has not been the practice of Avon Township to issue and mail hard paper newsletters, the last being in 2011." In the complaint, Williams and McNeill state that no discussion about a newsletter took place at the board's most recent meeting, held March 11.

"This type of expenditure would be an extraordinary expense, as the Avon Township budget only has a fraction of the amount needed to pay for this publication and postage in the corresponding budget lines," Williams and McNeill state in the complaint.

"On March 28, 2013, the attached political mailing was received by Township Trustee Douglas Raul Williams and as many as twenty thousands (sic) of other Avon Township residents," the complaint states. "The attached political mailing is a blatant and obvious attempt to promote political candidates with public funds."

The complaint also alleges that "the cost of printing and mailing the political mailer would be far in excess of $10,000 and would represent an in-kind contribution for the candidates that are members of the Avon Action party."


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