These anonymous flyers started appearing on porches in neighborhoods surrounding Bradley University today.
The flyer implies that Second District City Council candidate Curphy Smith and his campaign chairman Paul Wilkinson are in cahoots with attorney Jeff Hall who represents the Sigma Nu Fraternity in their lawsuit against Second District incumbent Barbara Van Auken. The unsigned flyer says the lawsuit has “become a driving catalyst for for Curphy Smith’s campaign waging Bradley students against regular citizens of the Second District.”
The flyer goes on to quote an e-mail from Jeff Hall to Bradley students encouraging them to vote for Smith and alleging that Van Auken will “exact revenge on the Greek system at Bradley” if reelected. Finally, it states that the Smith campaign is providing free rides to the Election Commission for early voting and alleges “impermissible electioneering may be occurring . . . within 100 feet of the Election Commission.”
When asked for his response to the flyer, Smith stated via e-mail, “While Councilwoman Van Auken’s decision to run a negative campaign is unfortunate, by no means was it unexpected. I fully expected these types of tactics and expect she will continue them. I have committed to an issue-based campaign against Barbara VanAuken as a city council representative. Instead of distracting the residents the 2nd district with negative attacks and muddying the waters with lies, I would like to discuss how we can make the 2nd district and the city of Peoria a better place for all of us.”
Van Auken, however, said via e-mail that she had not seen the flyer before I e-mailed a copy of it to her. She went on to say, “It was not authorized by my campaign or it would have so indicated. I have no idea who may have sent it. The only message I agree with or endorse is the one stating my desire to continue the progress that’s been made in the Second District as outlined in my authorized campaign literature.”
I talked to Wilkinson on the phone, and he stated in response to the charges on the flyer that the Smith campaign is “not involved in the lawsuit.” They are not trying to pit Bradley against other Second District residents, he continued. “We’re trying to bring people together.” He also said that Jeff Hall is not a member of the campaign staff, and that Hall acted on his own when writing the e-mail asking Bradley students to support Smith.
Hall did not return a request for comment.
I checked with Peoria’s Election Administrator Tom Bride, and he said there was nothing illegal about giving people a ride to a polling place. He also wasn’t sure that a car could get within 100 feet of the entrance to the room where early voting takes place.
My take: I take Barbara at her word that she didn’t authorize this flyer. But it’s obviously a Van Auken supporter that created and is distributing it. Van Auken should condemn the flyer as dirty politics and make it clear that she does not approve this kind of “help” from her supporters. I’m sure she would expect the same of Smith if the tables were turned.
Likewise, Hall’s e-mail, assuming it is quoted accurately, is objectionable. I would also like to see Smith condemn the personal attacks on Van Auken as dirty politics as well.
It’s unfortunate that the person who created this flyer has decided to make the Bradley issue even more polarizing than it already is. Note the choice of language: “Bradley students” versus “regular citizens of the Second District” (emphasis added). I guess Bradley residents are irregular citizens, eh? Or second-class citizens, perhaps? That’s not the way to win friends and influence people. I know it can be challenging living near college students, but I don’t believe antagonizing them, marginalizing them, or being condescending toward them is going to improve things.
And, this probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: the person who created and distributed this unsigned, anonymous flyer is a coward. It’s easy to sound tough when you hide behind anonymity.
Most Bradley students in that area probably aren’t citizens of the Peoria or the second district.
That flier makes me want to vote for Smith… it seems supportive of him other than the last statement.
Was this passed out in college areas or “regular” people areas?
How pathetic. Barbara Van Auken should have been worried about how she was percieved by Bradley students years ago, not days ago. Oh yeah, and she knows nuthin about them flyers. BWAAAAAHHHHAaa hahahah hahaha!
For some reason the song Desperado by the Eagles keeps running through my head.
The only Bradley students voting in this election will be Peoria residents and the girls at Sigma Nu, hardly representative of Bradley Universitys’ Greek family. The other “regular” residents will carry Ms. Van Auken thru by a 3-1 margin. She does a good job representing her district.
Anonymous flyers in the Uplands! Say it ain’t so! I sometimes think that the uplands is the birthplace of the anon flyer. Barb is the enemy of the student, she messed with the kids and now they will have some fun at her expense, gotta love it. Do you ever read the scout? I love to get a slice at baccis and read the scout, it is fun to try and see things from the out of town student perspective, and remember when I was in another town a long time ago doing and thinking the same way.
The last Bradley Scout I read… last fall sometime, there was a little article on students whining about how the Bradley Police were persecuting them and how they BU Police were too hard on students. Of course these complainers were out at 2 am, drunk off their ass, screaming obscenities when the police came along. They clearly felt that they were entitled to be disruptive boors. They were ticketed. This article had nothing to do with Van Auken at the time….
Regardless of your political camp — the complaint has been the same regarding the student / permanent D2 resident relationships. There needs to be an opportunity to harness the great energy of the students and permanent residents to work together in respect, effective communication and cooperation to make D2 even better.
When you get into people’s space — verbally, physically, emotionally and mentally — you violate boundaries and people do not feel safe. Public speaking to participate in the process is already a fate worse than death. Add to that plate of reluctance the perceived and real actions of elected officials overstepping their authority by trespassing on private property, further public participation and engagement is usually the result.
I am not condoning any inappropriate actions on the part of Sigma Nu and other students and their organizations, area residents et al if such behavior has occurred. I know what I have read or been told second hand. All parties should show respect and engage the area residents in public process to change D2 for the better. Until all sides seek to understand before being understood — there will be no significant change to heal the deep wounds and work together.
Nevertheless, on a personal level, I have witnessed Barbara being angry when a council vote did not go her way on the Orchard District Lighting fund issue and that she vowed retaliation against the councilmen who changed their vote in the next election and anyone who had influenced them to change their position. Fact — I was there while she spoke. Willing to testify in court on this issue.
Andrew Rand do not feel that his constituents should have the ‘intriguing’ opposition side to the public facility sales tax referendum on April 7’s ballot. Thus, the formation of Citizens for Responsible Spending to help voters to be informed on both sides of the issue, balanced information and to hear ‘the rest of the story’. Fact — I have already publicly released this information based on email communications.
Taxpayers, voters, residents are tired of being bullied and threatened and taxed to death for every want while the needs are ignored. People are being laid off, wages reduced while many purchases and taxes are going up, up, and up — where does it end?
Curphy’s campaign slogan — Action for All! pledges to embrace all D2 residents to show respect, effective communication and cooperation to make D2 even better.
To keep trying the same tactics over and over has not working and the definition of insanity. It will take commitment, time and perhaps messy public process to actually address and resolve the issues important to D2. It would seem that utilizing the talents of the students and permanent residents to ‘bloom where you are planted’ would be a better solution to achieve the desired results for all residents. D2 has a great opportunity to finally engage the underutilized people and talents of the Second District for significant improvement of quality of life issues for all residents.
For people that live near Bradley and complain about traffic, noise etc. I would think that before you buy into a neighborhood near a college, you might expect some extra traffic and noise…..
I still do not know who I will vote for in that race, but I think the idea of a councilwoman going to handle a noise complaint is in appropriate. She is a councilperson, not a law enforcement officer. Doing it while intoxicated is even more inappropriate.
2 points
1) It is the councilperson’s job.
2) She was not intoxicated. She may have had a drink, or maybe even two… that is not intoxicated… certainly not compared to college frat boy standards. (BTW, she is an adult and of legal drinking age in this state. How many Sigma Nus are?)
kcdad, it seems like there are a lot of opinions that differ with you on her level of intoxication. I do disagree with you that she should be out handling noise complaints instead of allowing the police to handle it.
kcdad —
1) It is not the councilperson’s job. The municipal code clearly states “The powers of the council or board shall be purely legislative” (65 ILCS 5/5-3-6) and that it is the “powers and duties of the [city] manager” to “enforce the laws and ordinances within the municipality” (65 ILCS 5/5-3-7). Council members are not law enforcement officers.
2) The testimony of the police officers who were there says she was. Were you there?
kcdad: didn’t you rake me over the coals for making an assumption? Were you there that night? Are you Batman? I talk with a couple of police officers on a regular basis and they know I have a blog. They tell me Van Auken was drunk and if she had been anybody else, she would have been arrested but her Lt. friend on the Police got her out of it much to the dismay of the officers there and to the dismay of the Bradley Police.
I can’t vote for or against her but people in the second deserve better. Whether or not that “better” is Smith, I don’t know but it seems to me anyone would be better. If the law suit goes through, the city will have to defend her at our expense.
The lawsuit will disappear after the election. BAV will win in a landslide because she represents vigorously all of her constituents and that includes the Bradley Greek family. Being single and retired she has the time to put in the job, and believe me it takes a lot of time.
If she wasn’t arrested and charged, and then convicted she wasn’t drunk. (Same as OJ not being guilty of murdering Nicole and Ron)
And CJ, I didn’t mean it was in her job description, but as a representative and resident of the district, she had a responsibility to say something.
Emtronics: I made no assumption except of her “innocence”. It seems you are assuming FACTS not in evidence. Some barney fife’s impression that he didn’t act upon according to his sworn duty?
The flyer was written by those who want to spread fear and division among neighbors. Dividing neighbors is not a good strategy to govern well and is pulling down the whole second district.
Taking a small fact and weaving a larger lie, implying that private citizens are doing something wrong when they are not, is something the West Bluff unfortunately sees every election cycle. We need leaders that can see that this is dishonorable and wrong, and will surround themselves with likeminded people.
Mr. Robert Powers (BVA’s campaign manager) was at the Bradley Student Center that morning hiding in the hallways and parking lots, covering his face with a hooded sweatshirt. He apparently had a camera, but as usual got the facts wrong.
Curphy Smith will give positive, respectful leadership for all citizens, not just a few.
kcdad, I’ll tell that “Barney Fife” Peoria Police Sgt what you said about him. After all, he has been dealing with drunks for over 20 years so what would he know over you, right? As for his/her sworn duty, a LT out ranked him and happened to be a good friend of Mz Van Auken. He has since retired.
I do enjoy your golden rule of posting. Don’t do as I say but twist what others say.
kcdad — The noise ordinance ticket against Matheny/Sigma Nu was dropped. Thus, going by your definition (no charge, arrest, or conviction), there was no noise ordinance violation by the fraternity. Sigma Nu is “innocent” and BVA’s actions were most inappropriate. You can’t have it both ways.
Her actions were the result of complaining about noise… making an allegation… did any one write a complaint about BVA? How is it that you don’t get it? A complaint WAS filed, the police DID respond, a ticket was issued. Guilty of anything or not, there was apparently enough evidence at the time to issue the citation… where is the citation for public intoxication?
These college boys are flexing their daddy’s money to get out of trouble…. again. At least they didn’t kill anyone this time. (as far as we know)
Emtronics…. send him to my office, or to my house if you wish. I will tell him myself. Or better yet, ask him why his 20 years of experience taught him to “follow orders” instead of doing his job.
Cops who selectively enforce the laws (because someone is someone’s friend) deserve no respect, and certainly don’t deserve the responsibilities and powers that go with the badge. Go ahead and argue that.
I can only assume that kcdad is BVA’s husband, brother, son or maybe BVA herself. It seems kcdad is going to extremes to defend her.
As for me, I will take the word of an experienced police officer any day.
The experienced police officer that wrongly ticketed those innocent boys instead of the drunk old hag?
THAT’S whose word you are going to take?
I will only presume, BEN, that you are not looking forward to finals next month, and are just a little sad that the Basketball season is over.
kcdad — wow! – haven’t seen anyone attack other’s logic so hard while committing the same logical blunders in doing so. I think we can all agree that this situation was a big black eye on the entire City of Peoria and not just the Bradley neighborhood.
Myself, I’m very disappointed in BVA’s actions – but then I admit; I got a good chuckle out of it because I was never a fan of hers.
You complain that the bradley students are flexing their “daddy’s money” to get out of trouble. Maybe – the way the world works. But at best, they are only charged (since dropped) with a minor noise violation. BVA was drunk, poking and confronting a police office, and flexing her “position of power” to insert herself where she doesn’t belong.
I’d wager a Ben Franklin that she’s drunk and loud more frequently than any frat house. But we laugh it off as BVA being BVA; yet hold the students to a higher standard. Whichever way the election turns out, there is a huge need for some reconciliation in the 2nd district. Every election seems to pit neighbor against neighbor.
kcdad asks, “did any one write a complaint about BVA?” Um… yeah. It’s all in the police reports and the lawsuit. And the proper response to someone making a noise complaint is to notify the police — you know, the ones in charge of enforcing the law. How is it that you don’t see that? Did smoke get in your eyes?
I completed my finals almost 30 years ago and did just fine, thank you!
I am continually frustrated by both candidates who seem to point fingers at Bradley University and its students when it is convenient or advantageous for them to do so. It is extremely difficult to promote partnership and a productive relationship when you are “playing both sides of the fence”. We, the community (which includes our council reps), need to re-frame the issue. It should never be “the neighbors” vs “the University”. That attitude will continue to foster anger, fear and frustration. That attitude will never lead to change. I agree with CJ that both candidates should come out and say “the flyer” is bad politics and – just as important – bad relations. Both candidates end up doing a dis-service to the community by simply denying responsibility. By the same token, voters who are elevating bad relations (flyers, lawsuits, etc.) to compelling reasons to vote for their candidates are doing just as much to make a bad situation even worse.
The noise ticket was issued on orders by the same LT at the scene after the fact. Both Bradley Officers stated they heard no noise from the frat. Probably one of the reasons the ticket was later dismissed. As for following orders, yes, the police do have a chain of command. I know kcdad that just kills you but as for showing no respect to officers that follow orders and don’t go off on their own, then you must not have any respect for Van Auken either as she showed none for poking an officer in the chest and calling them names. That is also in the official Police report.