THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

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Walker Takes Issue With Mayor's Letter

By TOM ROBB

Journal & Topics Reporter

Mark Walker, Democratic state representative candidate in the 66th Dist., has charged that a campaign letter endorsing his Republican opponent, Christine Prochno, was written by Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson. He said the letter is "inappropriate and might be illegal."

Last January, Johnson wrote the letter using village letterhead and listed the village hall address and telephone number at the bottom. Prochno serves with Johnson on the Elk Grove Village Board of Trustees.

A lawyer with the Illinois State Board of Elections said the use of the village seal and letterhead is not a violation of the law as long as it was not written on government time or using government resources. Walker's campaign staff disagrees citing a 2003 state ethics law that states, "Employees shall not intentionally misappropriate any state property or resources by engaging in any prohibited political activity for the benefit of any campaign for elective office."

A key to Walker's argument is whether letterhead is a village "resource."

Walker is not taking issue with another letter from retiring State Rep. Caroline Krause (R-66th) on Prochno's website that uses the seal of the State of Illinois. Walker explained that Krause's letter was written on campaign stationary. Krause's letter said Prochno's campaign committee paid for it.

Prochno admitted she should have removed the village hall address from Johnson's letter. She said the letter was distributed door-to-door in the village by her campaign staff and posted on her website.

She said her campaign paid for the copying and said she was sure that Johnson did not write it in village hall or on village time.

Johnson was not available for comment.

The 66th Dist. includes portions of Mt. Prospect, Des Plaines, Elk Grove and Arlington Hts.