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| Arlington Heights Trustee campaign signs at President Thom Hayes' house. |
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| Arlington Heights Trustee campaign signs at Arlene Mulder's house. |
If you see that the Village trustee candidates supported by Arlington Heights Village President Thom Hayes (left photograph) are not the same trustee candidates supported by Ex-Village President Arlene Mulder (right photograph), you win the prize.
Village President Thom Hayes appears to be supporting all four incumbent trustee candidates: John Scaletta, Robin La Bedz, Mike Sidor and Carol Blackwood. President Hayes also circulated two candidate petitions for each of the four incumbents to get them on the ballot in April.
Arlington Heights' Ex-Village President Arlene Mulder appears to be supporting two incumbent candidates John Scaletta, and Robin LaBedz, but she also appears to be supporting the two first-time challenger candidates Tom Schwingbeck and D. Court Harris.
Note: the campaign signs at Mrs. Mulder's house are illegally displayed on a public parkway and should be immediately removed by the Village.
In the past, Mrs. Mulder, as Village President, could be counted on to support incumbent candidates. So why would Mrs. Mulder be supporting two first-time candidates in this election?
The likely explanation may trace back to the Metropolis Theater vote on October 2, 2014. That was when Trustees Blackwood and Sidor had the audacity to vote against an extra $450,000 of funding for the Metropolis. So now, Trustees Blackwood and Sidor must be punished for their reckless behavior and not get the support of Mrs.Mulder.
Some background information on the subject is necessary. The Metropolis Theater is part of Mrs. Mulder's supposed legacy, and she does not take too kindly to elected officials tampering with her legacy. Strange how Mrs. Mulder is so sensitive about a failed asset. The only reason why Mrs. Mulder and the Village bought the Metropolis Theater for $2 million with TIF funds in 2005 was to bail out politically connected downtown developer Mark Anderson. In her view, the perennial money-loser is somehow an asset to the downtown area.
Now, there appears to be a rare split in the voting block in this election (see previous 'Bullet Voting vs. Block Voting'). That post discussed the affect on election results when the voting block pulled together and voted for four predetermined candidates. In the past, when Mrs. Mulder and Mr. Hayes agreed on the predetermined candidates, the outcome was almost certain who would be the winners. This is especially true with low voter turn out as is expected in the upcoming election.
But this election is different. The incumbent trustee candidates John Scaletta and Robin Labedz look to receive the full support of the block vote and have a near 90% certainty of re-election. But Mike Sidor and Carol Blackwood do not enjoy the same support, and their probability of each winning drops to about 50%, or a 25% chance of both winning. In effect, it is now Hayes vs. Mulder. If first-time challengers Tom Schwingbeck and Court Harris win their seat on the Village board, it would suggest that Mrs. Mulder still pulls a few strings in this town.
It's The Metropolis Theater, So Bullet Vote
Bullet voting is important now more than ever. There is no need to vote for John Scaletta or Robin LaBedz as they appear to have the full support of the block vote. The real election is for the two open seats contested by Tom Schwingbeck, Court Harris, Carol Blackwood and Mike Sidor.
So, it comes down to the Metropolis Theater once again. The Village has poured over $5 million into the Metropolis Theater since 2005, and there is no end in sight for future subsidies to keep the lights on. A concerned taxpayer should want some countervailing voices on the Village board regarding future funding of the Metropolis Theater.
Therefore, vote for Mike Sidor and/or Carol Blackwood only, then throw the remaining two or three votes away.
See you at the polls on April 7, 2015.
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