"Letter: Learning from Victor Wogen"

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/12/19/88803756/index.xml

Created: Saturday, December 19, 2009 1:03 a.m.

Letter: Learning from Victor Wogen

When I listened to Victor Wogen’s resignation announcement and the interview that followed on WLBK, I had a familiar sinking feeling.

It immediately reminded me of the phone conversation I had with him amidst the “smear mailer” scandal. For some reason, he has an aversion to accepting responsibility and a habit of displacing blame. I did not believe anything he told me in 2007, and I do not believe the claims he made on the radio the other day. Thankfully, his travesty of a political career is finally over.

As local residents look forward, I think it is important to analyze what happened and reflect on some very important lessons.

First, if you will recall, there were three candidates to choose from in the 2007 DeKalb 3rd Ward aldermanic race. In the city elections to come, please research each of the people running. If your schedule is too busy and you cannot attend a candidate forum, then e-mail or call them individually with your questions if certain issues are not discussed on their Web sites. Also, never make any decisions relying upon information found in a smear mailer or similar campaign literature that you receive.

Secondly, when any candidate or official lies or engages in other unscrupulous activity, do not simply complain about the situation. Have the courage to organize and mobilize in a publicly assertive manner to respond so everyone knows that kind of unethical behavior will not be tolerated in the community. In my opinion, Mr. Wogen did not resign solely because he wanted to devote more time to his children, rather he knew more unflattering information would surface about him in the months to come.

Lastly, understand that if this can happen once, then it can happen again. At this time, I ask all city residents to personally contact Mayor Kris Povlsen and ask him to properly vet all individuals whose names end up on his short list to fill the aldermanic position. Here we must be vigilant to ensure the nominee is someone who is as ethical and competent as he or she is thoughtful and engaging. The city has just experienced a scandal that many will not soon forget. Let’s make sure we follow through here and then hold all candidates and officials accountable in the future.

John A. Duerk
DeKalb

Copyright © 2009 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.

"Protests continue at DeKalb City Council meeting"

http://www.northernstar.info/article/9340/

Published on Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Protests continue at DeKalb City Council meeting
By DEMARCUS ROBINSON

For the second DeKalb City Council meeting in a row, a protest by citizens was held at 5:15 p.m. at the intersection of First Street and Lincoln Highway to protest city ethics.

Citizens came with an array of props such as vacuums and brooms, to illustrate their belief that city ethics need to be cleaned up.

The spark for public outcry came when Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen was discovered to have entered into a contract with the city, using his privately owned masonry company, Masonry Works LLC.

Wogen was not in attendance Monday night or during the Nov. 9 meeting.

The council discussed the issue of city contracts.

The protestors in attendance agreed with some of the proposed changes that would broaden the scope of who would be under more scrutiny.

“This should not be just limited to aldermen,” NIU graduate student John Duerk said. “It should be all city officials whether elected or appointed.”

Fourth Ward Alderman Brendon Gallagher motioned to have the spending authority of the city manager reduced to $10,000 in an effort to support transparency within the city.

Any city business under $20,000 can be approved by the city manager without going before the council.

City Manager Mark Biernacki appreciated that some sought transparency, though some of the proposed amendments would inhibit day-to-day duties.

“I know people don’t like the fact that I let contracts to Victor Wogen,” Biernacki said.

To limit the city manager to the point that it slows daily activity is not smart, Biernacki said.

Amendments were made to the ordinance, and it will be brought back during the Dec. 14 meeting.

The item on the agenda that took the majority of the council’s energy revolved around Ordinance 09-71, levying taxes for corporate purposes of the city of DeKalb, for the tax year 2009.

The council was presented with several options of what amounts to levy, with all amounts being used to cover mandated pension costs for the police and fire departments.

Under current suggestions, the debt incurred by the city will continue to grow.

“Somewhere down the line, our kids are going to have to come up with this money by 2033,” said Mayor Kris Povlsen.

The council did not come to a resolution as to what the remedy would be, and a motion was passed to bring back the item for a second reading during the Dec. 14 meeting.

Many people in the crowd showed visible signs of disappointment with some of the ideas proposed by the council, which did not sit well with some members, though they understood their displeasure.

“It’s easy to criticize and say no taxes,” Povlsen said. “At some point in time, we’re going to have to expect more help from our citizens to help with this problem.”

Other council members want to see a change in rationale and for residents to keep money within the community.

“We need to encourage residents to spend here, but also need to get rid of relying on sales tax dollars,” said Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker.

A public hearing took place during the meeting for four separate establishments seeking to open shops in the downtown district.

Due to the planned location of Euro Tattoo, 128 E. Lincoln Highway, it was recommended that it not be given one of two licenses for downtown because it would be within 500 feet of another establishment, Out On A Whim, 127 E. Lincoln Highway, which is already considered a body art establishment under Illinois state law.

"DeKalb citizens group wants 'clean sweep' of city hall"

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/11/24/67211399/index.xml

Created: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:02 a.m. CST

By JOHN PUTERBAUGH jputerbaugh@daily-chronicle.com

DeKalb citizens group wants 'clean sweep' of city hall

DeKALB – About a dozen DeKalb citizens gathered Monday evening to collectively call for a "clean sweep" of city government.

Armed with brooms, mops and a vacuum cleaner, members of DeKalb Citizens for Transparency recited chants and marched from First Street and Lincoln Highway to the DeKalb Municipal Building on Fourth Street ahead of the DeKalb City Council meeting.

"We would like open government," group spokeswoman Kay Shelton said. "We would like transparent government. We would like free, open competition for city contracts."

Specifically, the group expressed its discontent with a lack of transparency as it pertains to businesses of elected or appointed city officials getting city contracts for projects.

The DeKalb City Council voted 5-0 Monday on first reading of an ordinance that would give that body more power in authorizing spending when a fellow council member has financial interest in the contract. Aldermen Bertrand Simpson and Victor Wogen were absent from the meeting.

If approved when it is brought back for final reading Dec. 14, contracts in which an alderman is financially involved would require council approval, among other changes to how the city does business.

One suggestion that was supported by aldermen Monday is to include all city employees when it comes to financial ties to a city contract.

The overhaul in financial policy derived from one alderman’s work on public projects in 2008. Wogen, the 3rd Ward alderman, provided the lowest quote on six contracts with the city of DeKalb, winning the maintenance jobs. Because each project was less than $20,000 they didn't require city council action, according to state statute.

"When an alderman gets a contract and people don't know about it, citizens start to lose trust in elected officials," Shelton said. "Openness is the only way to get that trust back."

Members of DeKalb Citizens for Transparency attend city council meetings and get together on an as-needed basis to discuss relevant issues, said John Durek, a political science graduate student at Northern Illinois University who's been involved with the group for about two years.

"I'm interested in being an active citizen," Durek said. "It's not something we should just talk about; it's something we should do. The city was never going to discuss this issue of contracts for aldermen until our group brought it up."

Lynn Fazekas, former DeKalb mayoral candidate, said that she isn't simply against city officials doing private work with the city in all circumstances, but that she just wants more disclosure and transparency when it does happen. As it stands, she said, the problem is that independent local businesses might be discouraged from submitting bids on projects if they believe a city official's business will be awarded the contract because of favoritism.

• Daily Chronicle reporter Elena Grimm contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2009 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.

"Citizens protest DeKalb governmental practices"

http://www.northernstar.info/article/9061/

Citizens protest DeKalb governmental practices
By DEMARCUS ROBINSON

Monday night, prior to the DeKalb City Council meeting, a group of 13 concerned residents organized a protest of DeKalb governmental practices.

The protest took place at the intersection of First Street and Lincoln Highway, and once the protest was over the participants attended the city council meeting and voiced their opinions.

The group could be considered a watch dog group.

“We call ourselves a group of city watchers, and we’ve been involved in watching the actions of city government for quite some time,” said DeKalb resident Lynn Fazekas.

The members of the group put together a flier with a list of seven demands that they believe would improve government operations.

At the center of the demands was a commitment to be made to the highest standards of ethical conduct at all departments and levels of city government.

Another point of concern regarded the actions of Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen and called for the immediate termination of all staff involved in his Masonry Works employment arrangement with the city.

Wogen was not present at the city council meeting.

Fazekas said the point of critical mass was finding out that aldermen and city employees do extra work without the citizens knowing about it.

Another point of interest of the group was censorship.

“The latest revelation is that the Citizens Community Enhancement Commission actually talked about at their Sept. 21 meeting, pressuring a local daily newspaper to remove online comments that are unflattering to the city,” Fazekas said.

There was also concern raised about how decisions are made.

“It’s problematic because the city manager gets to decide when there are expenditures under $20,000,” said John Duerk, NIU graduate student.

Some feel that more scrunity is a possible solution to these concerns.

“I think that there needs to be more disclosure in how the city does business,” Duerk said.

The Freedom of Information Act is a way for citizens to gain access to government information, but some feel that it does not do enough.

Duerk feels that strides have been made, but that citizens should be provided with whatever documents that they request, and not just what officials want to provide. Some protestors want the city officials to realize change in procedure is needed because the economy is changing.

“I feel they need to realize that it’s time to adapt,” said Mac McIntyre, a DeKalb resident. “The climate has changed, the economy has changed; they can’t continue with a plan that we need to borrow money to compete.”

The fact that there has been a warning of a possible $2 million or $3 million shortfall is a wake up call, McIntyre said.

McIntyre also believes that a citizen review board would be a good idea to have in place to overlook things such as spending.

There are individuals who may call the protesters “whiners and complainers,” Fazekas said, but she said they view themselves as otherwise.

“On this list of demands you will not find a complaint,” Fazekas said. “You will find ideas for action that will lead to better city government, which is all we want.”

Many of the protestors said that the protest came together rather quickly, but that it is not specifically a one-time deal.

“I could see us doing it again, maybe in a couple of weeks,” Fazekas said. “We have to wait and see how the situation turns out.”

Third Ward resident meets with Alderman Wogen

Met with Victor this afternoon, and we went over a number of issues, mostly about perception, and how his initial lie has snow-balled with other things to create what I kept calling the "layer cake" that he's facing at present.

We started by having him explain to me what he hoped to achieve with our meeting. Always helps if you know what the other guy is hoping will happen.

He said he simply wanted to explain why he ran for alderman, and wanted to understand my issues with him. The entire conversation was as cordial and pleasant as any I have had with anyone. No heated words were exchanged, nor did tempers flare. It was just like talking with a neighbor or a co-worker.

I started by mentioning the flier issue, but quickly moved on, agreeing that I needed to say it as the basis for the remainder of the conversation. I then mentioned the promised editorial, and the lack thereof to-date. Noted that this makes it appear that the editorial promise is another lie, even if he hasn't meant it to be.

I mentioned his campaign promises to be a watchdog for the taxpayers, and his voting record on spending thus far.He explained the issue with the consultant, and after hearing his response, reminded him that he should have asked a few questions of city staff before voting as he did. Told him he needed to make sure he asks all the right questions.

Explained that, because of the bankruptcy stuff posted here, as well as his current position as alderman, that folks perceive that he's "bought and paid for". He acknowledged, throughout the discussion, that he understands that perception is important, and that he needs to work very hard to change that perception.

Told him that he should use the website more. He indicated that no other alderman has a website ... I challenged him to be the first, and lead the way for the others to follow. He is taking that under advisement.

Gave him my take on the smoking ban vote, and told him that he needs to pick and choose "which hill he wants to die on" ... in other words ... does he want to risk his reputation and relationships with the mayor and the council over issues that are dead-and-buried.

Reminded him that while he certainly needs to get opinions, he needs to make sure that the people offering those opinions are folks who live and work here. Have a core group you trust, but be sure and try to get a sense from the ward about what they think.

Kept pressing home the point that he has a perception out there that he's not everything he says he is, and only he can change that by taking a hit and letting people know his stance on key issues, even if it means eating some crow in the process.

He did promise that, in the next two weeks, he will be appearing on WLBK, and will be writing at least a letter to the editor (he admitted that his relationship with the Chronicle was, well, strained), explaining his stance on some issues that have been raised here.

He wants to start ward meetings to keep people informed and involved in ward issues. He indicated that he would use his website more as an informational and announcement site, so that everyone can access the information without having to call him.

He appreciated the fact that I have posted here under my own name, and did offer up an apology if anyone in his support circle has been offensive or rude.

He has indicated that he will be e-mailing the owners of this blog to request an opportunity to post a message of his own to all of us, and I indicated that I thought that might not be a bad idea ... as long as he is willing to accept the fact that he might get shredded in the comments section.

For my part, I have promised that my posts will, from now on, focus on his voting record, and holding him accountable for his actions from today forward. Whatever happened in the past is in the past, but that past is always going to be there in formulating my opinion on whether he is being honest with us on future issues.

I did get the sense that he hadn't realized how badly our perception of him has been skewed by all of the "layer cake" issues that he's handled, and that he now realizes that he must outline, for us, what he really stands for, in order for him to try and break that perception and get down to business.

As a side note, I did bring up the yard sign "issue" ... he told me that they got the signs in Elgin, and that he would be happy to get me the records to prove costs.

As I was not meeting with him to get that type of information, I did not press him to provide it. I reserve the right to ask for it later, but wanted to stay focused on the conversation at hand.

All in all, I really think he didn't realize just how angry people are, and just how badly the perception of who he is, and what he stands for, were blown up as a result of the whole flier issue and its aftermath.

I think he has a game plan in mind to try and right the ship. And although I gave him what I thought was sound advice on how to rectify the situation, and how to attack his job as alderman, I made it clear that my ideas were his to do with as he wished, and that it was not my intention to be, or become, his adviser or political adviser.

Just passing along some thoughts and ideas for him to think about.

Let's hope that he will indeed do that, and solicit the input from everyone in the ward ... supporters, non-supporters, and those on the fence alike.

Brien

Become your own Wogen Watcher!

Many local citizens have expressed their disgust with Alderman Wogen's lying and some have even raised more questions about possible corruption at City Hall. You can empower yourself to help ensure that we don't encounter this kind of sleazy behavior in the future by:

- Attending council meetings at city hall on alternating Monday evenings at 7pm to hear what Alderman Wogen says first-hand and how he votes on local issues. Also check the previous meeting minutes to see how information is (or isn't) recorded.

- Calling the alderman at home (815-517-0384) and telling him that he owes the community answers to the many questions that local citizens have raised.

- Typing "Victor Wogen" and "Alderman Wogen" into Google Alerts so you can receive email updates every time his name makes the local paper.

- Writing letters to the editor of the local papers, including the Daily Chronicle, MidWeek, Northern Star, and DeKalb County Online when he casts a(nother) misguided vote. Also send a copy to Wogen Watch at wogenwatch@yahoo.com.

- Joining the discussion here at Wogen Watch by posting comments (or questions) on any of the blog posts you find interesting. Feel free to remain anonymous.

If we want greater accountability in local government, then our public officials must know that they cannot act with impunity. After all, the fate of our community is at stake.

Kay Shelton's statement before the city council on May 29, 2007

Truth, justice, and the American Way shouldn’t just be a fantasy from an old TV show. I want it in the public record that there were numerous reports in the media regarding nonsense in the recent local election. I do not believe that enough people understand the seriousness of how important voting is. Not everything made it into the media, yet.

I found out after the election that some voters and reporters were told that I dropped out of the race. Other voters were told that I was not a real candidate but that I was a “plant” by Kapitan to split the vote so he would win. That disinformation has as much truth to it as Elvis Presley is alive and well, and living in DeKalb.

When I was a kid, I played softball on a team that lost every game. But, I would rather lose honestly, fairly, and with honor than to win through lying, cheating, and dishonor. I learned when I was a kid that it’s not who wins or loses but how you play the game. Based on the election antics, I suppose soccer Coach Wogen never learned the same valuable lesson.

I heard Coach Wogen’s apology a couple of weeks ago on the radio. Let’s try a sports analogy (although from baseball) to make sure everybody understands how serious lying is. I had the privilege and honor to meet U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, easily one of the most honest, unbiased, and fair individuals I will ever meet. Prosecutor Fitzgerald also has the best and most memorable description of lying, which is like “. . . throwing sand into the umpire’s face.”

Lynn Fazekas' statement before the city council on May 29, 2007

I am also a casualty of the Third Ward dirty politics. My trust in city government is shaken. Of course it starts with last month’s Campaign Adventure in Ward 3. As I wrote in a letter to the Daily Chronicle, published May 5th, “There is no credibility there, no trust.” Unquote.

But it goes beyond that. Other events of the past few weeks have not worked to restore confidence. It would seem, for example, that anyone could stroll into City Hall and leave with personal information about my neighbors and me. That issue should be aggressively addressed. As far I as I can tell, it has not.

And when I sought help with this disturbing perception? I found that my own alderman no longer returns my phone calls.

So now I’m paying close attention, right? And something I might have completely missed before really sticks out. Namely, the May 14th passage of Ordinance 07-49, which amends the Plan Commission Code of Ethics.

Aldermen and city staff struggled to agree on an interpretation of the intent of this amendment—and never did. Yet it passed, unanimously. With language that was deemed merely “adequate.”

Generally speaking, such ambiguity is a potential path to litigation, isn’t it? How is this watching out for our tax dollars? I cannot figure out why it is that this ordinance did not get sent back to the drawing board. It certainly should have. “Adequate” is not good enough. And yes, one word can make a difference.

What’s more, this whole situation makes me wonder who is really running the show here. And whether the buck really stops with the people we get to vote for.

Why the community needs this watchdog

After discussing the Wogen controversy with several people - people who live in and outside of DeKalb - it occurred to me that the community needs a blog solely dedicated to monitoring his activities. Why? Elected officials who deliberately mislead the public cannot be trusted to make sound policy decisions. Consequently, we must be vigilant over the next four years, and part of that vigilance includes mobilizing the citizenry in the event Alderman Wogen exercises poor judgment again.

This is where you come in. Are you willing to email the Alderman or call him at home, write a letter to the editor of the Daily Chronicle, or confront him by speaking at a city council meeting? Most important of all, are you willing to walk a picket line? If so, then please contact Wogen Watch at wogenwatch@yahoo.com and state what you're willing to do. In addition, send an email if you hear that he's up to something shady that everyone needs to know about. Since DeKalb is a small city with only seven council members, it does not matter which ward you live in because Alderman Wogen may cast a deciding vote that ultimately affects your well-being.

In the meantime, I encourage every member of this community to speak out in some way about the April 17 election. Please tell Alderman Wogen that you'll be watching and feel free to contact him any way you choose:

DeKalb Alderman Victor Wogen, Third Ward
729 North 11th Street
DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone: 815-517-0384
Fax: 815-517-0382
victor.wogen@cityofdekalb.com
victor@wogen3rdward.com

If you need a map to his home, then please click here.