Fremarek To Seek Re-Election Despite Embezzlement Charges

PLAINFIELD, IL — Despite embezzlement charges, the current Plainfield Township supervisor is running for the April 6 Consolidated Election.

Anthony Fremarek was charged in January, accused of with embezzling nearly $1.4 million from the consulting firm where he worked until 2019 to pay his personal credit cards. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, he attempted to conceal the embezzlement by falsifying entries in the company's accounting system — over a period of six years — to disguise the payments as seemingly legitimate business expenses.

According to the Will County Clerk's website, Fremarek is running unopposed, and his name on the ballot is inciting anger among residents and other candidates alike.

Plainfield mayoral candidate and former township supervisor John F. Argoudelis told Patch that he is calling for Fremarek to resign from his position and withdraw his candidacy for re-election in April, following the federal indictment. He also called on the Plainfield Township Republican Organization to remove Fremarek as chairman.

"I've publicly called for Fremarek to resign these positions since the indictment occurred in
January. Illinois government is plagued with corruption from top to bottom, but I would hope in
our local government we would not tolerate it," Argoudelis said. "The right thing would be for all local Republicans to call on him to resign as township supervisor so that our community can move forward while he settles his personal problems. However, Fremarek remains on the ballot and clings to power continuing to collect $30,000 per year of taxpayer money."

A reader commented on Patch saying: "Being indicted by a Federal Grand Jury after an 18-month Secret Service investigation is not trivial. And well over 90 percent of those charged are convicted or plead guilty. Yet in Plainfield, this Federal arrest goes barely noticed and taxpayers continue to pay Fremarek’s salary and let his pension accumulate. Have we really become this accepting of bad actors in our community?"

Another reader said she is "sick of crooked politicians."

"I believe that any civil servant should be held to the highest of standards. If they cannot keep their hands out of the taxpayers hard-earned money and do the job they are trusted to do, they should be stripped of any and all possibilities of ever holding office again, get a long prison term and without possibilities of pardon or parole. I don't care if you are a rookie cop or the president. You are here to serve us, you signed up. If you don't agree with the terms. Don't apply," she said.

Fremarek was elected to the township board as trustee in April 2009, elected supervisor in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. He has lived in Plainfield Township with his family since 1998. Public records show he and his wife own a Plainfield home, as well as a home in Fort Meyers, Florida, purchased in 2018.

According to the Illinois State Board of Elections website, Fremarek was listed as treasurer for Republican Illinois District 97 Representative Mark Batinick's campaign until Jan. 14.

Despite Batnick's statement to Patch in January where he said Fremarek "needs to explain or step down," there has been no pressure from his office since.

"I have been at odds with Fremarek for years, and clearly he is no longer fit to serve, if he ever was, " Argoudelis said. "He should have resigned as Supervisor and PTRO chair in January. The PTRO should be taking the necessary steps to elect a new chairman and audit all finances that Fremarek handled."

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