http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2007/05/05/news/news02.txt
Wogen says he's sorry, but won't resign By Benji Feldheim - Staff Writer
DeKALB - Third Ward Alderman-elect Victor Wogen publicly apologized Friday morning for initially saying he had no knowledge of or involvement with a controversial campaign mailer before the April 17 election, but later admitting to adding postage to the fliers before they were sent.
During a live interview on WLBK with T.D. Ryan, Wogen apologized to 3rd Ward residents and 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan. He re-iterated that he did not read the flier carefully before sending it out.Wogen said he would not resign from his recently elected position and clarified why he has not publicly commented on the situation until Friday.
“I felt there was so much animosity and anger out there that people wouldn't actually listen to what I was saying,” said Wogen. “Now that it's ... well I wouldn't say it has calmed down, but it's calmed down a little bit more, people are a little more apt to listen to what I'm saying.”
The flier was made by a group called Citizens for a Better 3rd Ward. No one has come forward to acknowledge being involved with this group.
“We have no idea who they are,” said Wogen during the interview.
Printed on the flier were housing-code violations levied against Steve Kapitan, as well as Web site references describing him as “extremely pro-gay” and the “go-to guy in DeKalb” for socialists. The allegations are based on an obscure Web site run by an Ohio man and a passing reference to Kapitan in an interview published in the Socialist Worker newspaper. The Ohio Web site also rated several other former and current DeKalb aldermen as “extremely pro-gay.”
“Code violations I can live with, those are just facts,” said Wogen about the flier's content. “But the socialist (reference) and ‘extremely pro-gay' should not have been on there.”
Wogen said he would've “read it more thoroughly and the postage would not have been put on” if he could face the situation again. He also said he would “read all the material that's handed to me when I become the alderman of the 3rd Ward.”
In response to the efforts by a group called Citizens for Wogen's Resignation, who have been circulating a petition for him to step down as alderman, Wogen thanked Sarah Corrigan and Christine Kahle, who have spearheaded the petition, for their concern with issues within the ward.
Corrigan said she e-mailed Wogen after hearing the broadcast, thanking him for the apology. Corrigan said she wrote in the e-mail that she hopes people who are now petitioning for his resignation can work together with him while he is in office. The group will still continue collecting signatures, regardless of Wogen's statement that he will not resign.
“A lot of people are still angry about this, and won't accept anything less than his resignation,” said Corrigan. “But eventually we will have to work with him as an alderman and not shun him.”
During the interview with Ryan, Wogen talked about gathering a volunteer group of between 15 and 20 people to help others fix up their homes in the 3rd Ward. He offered the services of the group to help Kapitan renovate his own house.
“I can't re-iterate how sorry I am for misleading people,” said Wogen. “In the last two weeks, I have matured quite a bit as far as how I will speak and how I will talk. I will make sure people understand when I am talking.”
Benji Feldheim can be reached at bfeldheim@daily-chronicle.com.
Wogen says he's sorry, but won't resign By Benji Feldheim - Staff Writer
DeKALB - Third Ward Alderman-elect Victor Wogen publicly apologized Friday morning for initially saying he had no knowledge of or involvement with a controversial campaign mailer before the April 17 election, but later admitting to adding postage to the fliers before they were sent.
During a live interview on WLBK with T.D. Ryan, Wogen apologized to 3rd Ward residents and 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan. He re-iterated that he did not read the flier carefully before sending it out.Wogen said he would not resign from his recently elected position and clarified why he has not publicly commented on the situation until Friday.
“I felt there was so much animosity and anger out there that people wouldn't actually listen to what I was saying,” said Wogen. “Now that it's ... well I wouldn't say it has calmed down, but it's calmed down a little bit more, people are a little more apt to listen to what I'm saying.”
The flier was made by a group called Citizens for a Better 3rd Ward. No one has come forward to acknowledge being involved with this group.
“We have no idea who they are,” said Wogen during the interview.
Printed on the flier were housing-code violations levied against Steve Kapitan, as well as Web site references describing him as “extremely pro-gay” and the “go-to guy in DeKalb” for socialists. The allegations are based on an obscure Web site run by an Ohio man and a passing reference to Kapitan in an interview published in the Socialist Worker newspaper. The Ohio Web site also rated several other former and current DeKalb aldermen as “extremely pro-gay.”
“Code violations I can live with, those are just facts,” said Wogen about the flier's content. “But the socialist (reference) and ‘extremely pro-gay' should not have been on there.”
Wogen said he would've “read it more thoroughly and the postage would not have been put on” if he could face the situation again. He also said he would “read all the material that's handed to me when I become the alderman of the 3rd Ward.”
In response to the efforts by a group called Citizens for Wogen's Resignation, who have been circulating a petition for him to step down as alderman, Wogen thanked Sarah Corrigan and Christine Kahle, who have spearheaded the petition, for their concern with issues within the ward.
Corrigan said she e-mailed Wogen after hearing the broadcast, thanking him for the apology. Corrigan said she wrote in the e-mail that she hopes people who are now petitioning for his resignation can work together with him while he is in office. The group will still continue collecting signatures, regardless of Wogen's statement that he will not resign.
“A lot of people are still angry about this, and won't accept anything less than his resignation,” said Corrigan. “But eventually we will have to work with him as an alderman and not shun him.”
During the interview with Ryan, Wogen talked about gathering a volunteer group of between 15 and 20 people to help others fix up their homes in the 3rd Ward. He offered the services of the group to help Kapitan renovate his own house.
“I can't re-iterate how sorry I am for misleading people,” said Wogen. “In the last two weeks, I have matured quite a bit as far as how I will speak and how I will talk. I will make sure people understand when I am talking.”
Benji Feldheim can be reached at bfeldheim@daily-chronicle.com.
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