Darien, IL. (ECWd) –
Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District has made contributions to a Political Action Committee (“PAC”), The Friends of DWFD in Support of Debt Reduction Bond Referendum.
The PAC indicates in-kind contributions from the Fire Protection District for PRINTING and POSTAGE in the total amount of $2,454.97 – these are public funds, property, and credit used to support a referendum for more debt.
The District has an $8 million Debt Reduction Bond referendum on the ballot for November, and the PAC was formed by District Trustee Christopher English and the Firefighter’s Union President Nicholas Anastos.
The District discusses the PAC business in public meetings: http://www.dwfd.org/uploads/4/8/5/1/48517017/5.20.2020.pdf
From all appearances, with the Agendas and Minutes from the Jun, Jul, and Aug meetings, they are treating this PAC as a committee of the Fire Protection District.
The Campaign Disclosure Act (in the Election Code) prohibits this activity and provides for criminal penalties:
5/9-25.1 Election Interference. (a) As used in this Section, “public funds” means any funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly or by any political subdivision of the State of Illinois. (b) No public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or proposition, or be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization. This Section shall not prohibit the use of public funds for dissemination of factual information relative to any proposition appearing on an election ballot, or for dissemination of information and arguments published and distributed under law in connection with a proposition to amend the Constitution of the State of Illinois.
(c) The first time any person violates any provision of this Section, that person shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Upon the second or any subsequent violation of any provision of this Section, the person violating any provision of this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
We urge any resident of the District to contact their local authorities and ask that this be investigated and the rule of law upheld.
They are using your money, in an attempt at getting you to give them more of your money, and it violates state law.
