All we know for sure is this: DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer cast a vote against Gavin Wilson’s candidacy as 5th Ward alderman. The mayor is now found to have close political relationships with Wilson’s opponent in the race and with the man who challenged Wilson’s ballot petition. Van Buer’s campaign manager, Don Floyd, says…
Conflict of Interest No. 12,498
In the February 24 article, “No Race in DeKalb’s 5th Ward” I decried the Illinois campaign laws that could be used to get a person kicked off the ballot for not much more than forgetting to cross a “t.” In my opinion only out-and-out fraud, such as forgery, should get a person tossed off the…
Shut Up
The Setup For nearly all of the past 20 years, my day job has been about providing services for adults with developmental, physical, intellectual and/or mental disabilities. One of the challenges is to keep vulnerable people safe. We sometimes fail. Abuse and neglect sometimes occur no matter how good the service agency is, so what…
Donna Johnson & the Liquor Commission
Part of Donna Johnson’s job as city clerk also includes the role of deputy liquor commissioner. It was in this capacity that Johnson was put on the defensive in early 2005, when “the city” made the decision to allow a tavern to pay a fine for getting caught serving a minor without the requisite public…
City Clerk Violates Open Meetings Act
[UPDATE 7/16: The June 11 council meeting minutes are posted at the city site as of today, exactly three weeks late and two days after this letter appeared in the Chronicle. Under Item L, Citizen Comments: “Ms. Frances Loubere, 826 North 7th Street, DeKalb, spoke regarding the results of the recent 3rd Ward election.” (Of…
Wogen Watch
Northern Star and Daily Chronicle articles regarding Victor Wogen and his supporters’ pre-election smear mailer against opponent Steve Kapitan have been collected at Wogen Watch: A Watchdog for DeKalb, Illinois’ Third Ward, a blog of unknown origin established last weekend. Let’s give this anonymous citizen more material, shall we? The next City Council meeting is…
Wogen on the Radio Again
Go here to listen to Victor Wogen continue to craft his post office tale in an interview originally airing Monday. I also hear he’s calling the Third Ward petition organizers his “partners.” Bleagh. Good news. The Third Warders have found a way to enter the petition into the City record. It’s as simple as participating…
Wogen Monday Game Plan
Several Third Warders are meeting with Victor Wogen tonight to discuss his intentions as concerns his constituency. They would also like to ensure that Mr. Wogen will accept the petition calling for his resignation in a dignified and gracious manner before he takes his seat Monday evening. Inauguration will take place during a special meeting…
Wogen Insults Us
< rant on > Victor Wogen’s interview on WLBK insulted our intelligence and was chauvinistic to boot. First he says he delayed setting the record “straight” (as if that really happened this morning) to allow us hysterical petition-driving womenfolk to “calm down a little.” He still doesn’t admit that he knew exactly what was in…
Wogen on the Radio Friday
Victor Wogen is scheduled for an interview on WLBK, 1360 on your AM dial this Friday at 9 a.m. They take listener questions (and feedback?) only via e-mail, so go here for contact info and be sure to share the love come Friday morn. (If the Wogen scandal is new to you, previous posts here…