Friday Fable #3

Friday Fable – Setting the Record Straight

Welcome to the third Friday Fable, where Avon United clears up misinformation designed to mislead voters.

Today’s Fable: “Did you violate election code by not including the name of your political committee on your signs?”

The Truth:

• Yes… It’s true. Some of our Avon United signs inadvertently missed an important disclaimer at the bottom of each sign.

• That disclaimer can be found in 10 ILCS 5/9-9, which states: "Any political committee shall include on all literature and advertisements soliciting funds the following notice: "Paid for by (committee). A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov

) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL.”

• To fix this issue, Avon United called a printer on Tuesday and printed out vinyl stickers for each sign. We are in the process of attaching these stickers to the signs to make them compliant. (Over 100 signs have been “stickered” already.)

• We apologize for this inadvertent mistake.

• In the name of full transparency, however, we aren’t the only ones running for Avon Township that is/was in direct violation of this law.

• The “transparent” opposition held a political fundraiser at a Grayslake eatery on Tuesday, January 21.

• To promote the event, they sent out flyers for what was clearly labeled a “fund raiser,” where the event cost was clearly visible at the top of the flyer.

• Not only was the required notice from 10 ILCS 5/9-9 not on the flyer, but the flyer was also completely missing the words “paid for by (committee).”

• To make it MUCH worse, the opposition used the trademarked corporate seal from Avon Township on that fundraiser flyer. That seal is officially government property owned by the taxpayers, making this flyer a HUGE violation of Illinois election law and (potentially) federal trademark laws.

• In addition, as 10 ILCS 5/9-9 states above, all literature must say, “A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov

) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL.”

• Currently, the opposition has a website that solicits donations through a “donate” button. Because this website is designed to obtain money, this entire disclaimer is REQUIRED to be on the website – which it isn’t.

• They also have a walk card that, like political signs, can be used to garner donations. This entire statement is not located anywhere on those walk cards as the law requires.

Bottom Line: Mistakes happen, but candidates should own up to and correct mistakes. Avon United discovered a mistake and immediately took steps to correct it. Yet the opposition seemed to prefer throwing rocks while ignoring their own glass house. We’d like to recommend they stop using the trademarked, tax payer owned corporate seal on their literature, then do what is necessary to get their website and walk cards in compliance with the law.