Letter to the Editor: 'Join Us In Proudly Voting For Jennifer S. Spinney'

Dear Editor;

We are pleased to know that the residents of Winnetka have a choice of four candidates to choose from as they vote to fill the three open trustee positions in the upcoming election on Tuesday, April 5. We are not pleased with the course of events that got us to where we are now.

Richard Kates’ one man legal campaign to challenge Jennifer Spinney’s inclusion on the ballot was ill-conceived, self-serving and above all, undemocratic. After losing his challenges with the local election board he appealed to the Cook County Election Board and lost. He went to the Illinois Circuit Court and lost. He appealed to the Illinois Appellate Court and lost. Now he is on record stating that even though she is on the ballot he may still appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court even if it is after the election. Through March 18, 2011, his personal campaign to affect the composition of the ballot has already cost the residents and tax payers of the Village of Winnetka $14,995 in direct expenses for outside legal counsel. In addition to this, residents of Winnetka have spent thousands of dollars in indirect expenses as our Village Attorney, Kathy Janega, and other village staff members have been spending an inordinate amount of hours on this issue. Jennifer Spinney has also spent thousands of dollars, of her own money, on attorney’s fees to defend herself and her right to continue TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF WINNETKA as a trustee. I capitalize THE RESIDENTS OF WINNETKA for a reason. Do we want our board of trustees to include a person like Jennifer Spinney who grew up in Winnetka and has served with unbiased distinction on numerous boards within the community, including the Village Board of Trustees, or do we want a person like Richard Kates who squanders our tax dollars, and Village of Winnetka resources, to promote his self-serving personal agenda? Another item to consider; while being vetted by the Caucus Nominating Committee, Mr. Kates represented an individual who was not only suing the Village of Winnetka, but was also suing the Fire Chief of the Village individually, (I assume on the advice of counsel) over a zoning dispute. While Mr. Kates has since resigned as counsel in that suit to run for trustee, it does make one wonder??

We are fortunate to live in a community with residents who truly care about the effectiveness of village government and how to conduct the business of the village in a civil, community-focused manner. We are lucky to have a choice and an ability to exercise our democratic right on April 5. Please join us in proudly voting for Jennifer S. Spinney next Tuesday.

Sincerely,
Tom and Catie Barron
Winnetka Residents