http://www.northernstar.info/articles/?id=36284
Wogen faces the wrath of constituents after postcard debacle
Published on: Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Article by: Julia HaugenDeKalb Government Reporter • jhaugen@northernstar.info
DeKALB Alderman-elect Victor Wogen admitted to having paid postage and sent out a postcard describing incumbent 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan as "pro-gay" and "pro-socialist" next to a picture of Kapitan's home, and a list, obtained from the city, of code violations.
The admission came less than a week after he told the Northern Star and other media outlets he had nothing to do with creating or sending the mailers.
"I'm not anti-gay," said Wogen the night of the election. "I don't know who did this."
Now Kapitan is being contacted by constituents who want to see him ask for a recount. He said he has been approached everywhere, including at work, by residents who describe themselves as outraged.
"They are comparing this to Chicago politics," he said.
Kay Shelton, who also ran for the 3rd Ward seat, said she has been hearing similar comments from her friends and neighbors.
"When this postcard came out, one of my neighbors said this was political suicide for Wogen," Shelton said.
Wogen downplayed the number of critics on Monday.
"It's just a very small group of people who want me out and that's because their guy lost," Wogen said.
Sarah Corrigan, a 3rd Ward resident, disagrees. She said she voted for Wogen and is still excited about many of his ideas, but wants a statement of responsibility and apology of some sort about the mailer.
"We were misled," Corrigan said. "Our issue is there are a lot of nasty things in politics, but DeKalb is a small town and we shouldn't have that sort of thing here."
Corrigan said she and other residents will be looking for ways to voice their disapproval. At Monday's city council Corrigan asked the council if there was a means to remove Wogen. City attorney Norma Guess replied there was not.
Over the weekend, Shelton sent out a public letter to local media about a phone message left on her answering machine in which Wogen said he thought the two should work out a strategy for beating Kapitan. She expects that as the story gets out to the public, the movement to get Wogen to step down will grow.
However, she does not expect Wogen to resign voluntarily.
"I just hope someone tells Mr. Wogen to read the U.S. constitution before he's sworn in," Corrigan said.
Kapitan said he is not part of the effort to get Wogen to resign and will not comment personally.
"I'm going to let other people speak to that issue," he said.
Kapitan said he found it disturbing that Wogen, who said he was unaware of the contents of the postcard, would send out a mailer without examining it.
"If you're an alderman, would you vote on something without looking at it?" he said.
Kapitan said he will look into having a recount in May, but he has little hope of it changing the election.
As for Wogen, he said he's done talking about the mailer, stating, "I'll talk about the next four years."
Wogen faces the wrath of constituents after postcard debacle
Published on: Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Article by: Julia HaugenDeKalb Government Reporter • jhaugen@northernstar.info
DeKALB Alderman-elect Victor Wogen admitted to having paid postage and sent out a postcard describing incumbent 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan as "pro-gay" and "pro-socialist" next to a picture of Kapitan's home, and a list, obtained from the city, of code violations.
The admission came less than a week after he told the Northern Star and other media outlets he had nothing to do with creating or sending the mailers.
"I'm not anti-gay," said Wogen the night of the election. "I don't know who did this."
Now Kapitan is being contacted by constituents who want to see him ask for a recount. He said he has been approached everywhere, including at work, by residents who describe themselves as outraged.
"They are comparing this to Chicago politics," he said.
Kay Shelton, who also ran for the 3rd Ward seat, said she has been hearing similar comments from her friends and neighbors.
"When this postcard came out, one of my neighbors said this was political suicide for Wogen," Shelton said.
Wogen downplayed the number of critics on Monday.
"It's just a very small group of people who want me out and that's because their guy lost," Wogen said.
Sarah Corrigan, a 3rd Ward resident, disagrees. She said she voted for Wogen and is still excited about many of his ideas, but wants a statement of responsibility and apology of some sort about the mailer.
"We were misled," Corrigan said. "Our issue is there are a lot of nasty things in politics, but DeKalb is a small town and we shouldn't have that sort of thing here."
Corrigan said she and other residents will be looking for ways to voice their disapproval. At Monday's city council Corrigan asked the council if there was a means to remove Wogen. City attorney Norma Guess replied there was not.
Over the weekend, Shelton sent out a public letter to local media about a phone message left on her answering machine in which Wogen said he thought the two should work out a strategy for beating Kapitan. She expects that as the story gets out to the public, the movement to get Wogen to step down will grow.
However, she does not expect Wogen to resign voluntarily.
"I just hope someone tells Mr. Wogen to read the U.S. constitution before he's sworn in," Corrigan said.
Kapitan said he is not part of the effort to get Wogen to resign and will not comment personally.
"I'm going to let other people speak to that issue," he said.
Kapitan said he found it disturbing that Wogen, who said he was unaware of the contents of the postcard, would send out a mailer without examining it.
"If you're an alderman, would you vote on something without looking at it?" he said.
Kapitan said he will look into having a recount in May, but he has little hope of it changing the election.
As for Wogen, he said he's done talking about the mailer, stating, "I'll talk about the next four years."
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