BELLWOOD, In poor health. – Municipal elections are lower than per week away for a whole bunch of suburbs, townships, and college boards.
Whereas most of those races do not get lots of consideration, you would possibly say the battle for mayor of west suburban Bellwood is popping “electrical.”
What we all know:
Bellwood Village Clerk Janel Moreland mentioned she started receiving calls from offended taxpayers Wednesday a few big cellular digital billboard taking over two areas within the Village Corridor parking zone.
The billboard urged residents to vote for her opponent, longtime Mayor Andre Harvey, and his slate of trustees.
An extended extension twine operating from the truck by means of the parking zone was plugged into Village of Bellwood energy.
“You’ll be able to’t use village assets, which is technically taxpayer {dollars}, to run your marketing campaign promoting. It is unethical, it is unlawful, it isn’t legit and it is insulting to our residents,” Moreland mentioned.
FOX 32 reached out to Mayor Harvey, who declined to seem on digital camera however mentioned over the telephone that it is no huge deal as a result of the Village of Bellwood doesn’t need to pay for the facility within the Village Corridor parking zone.
When requested who does pay for the electrical energy, Harvey mentioned he didn’t know and would get again to us. We’re nonetheless awaiting clarification.
“We do not have an electrical invoice? We do not have to pay for any sort {of electrical} energy? If that is the case, I am positive our residents wish to know the way they’ll get a part of that program in order that they would not need to pay for his or her electrical energy as effectively,” Moreland mentioned.
It’s not the one signal with Harvey’s identify and face in Bellwood.
An digital billboard on twenty fifth Avenue going through the Eisenhower Expressway has featured the mayor’s picture for years, welcoming commuters to Bellwood. It prices tens of hundreds of {dollars} yearly.
Whereas it’s not a political signal, Moreland mentioned it has the identical impact.
“How a lot does one thing like that value? And, can it’s higher utilized for it again in our group, pour it again into the residents,” Moreland mentioned.
What’s subsequent:
The digital signal is within the Village Corridor parking zone as a result of it’s the web site of early voting in Bellwood.
The mayor mentioned the proprietor of the cellular signal truck has agreed to pay the village $500 as compensation, however he was unclear whether or not that quantity was for electrical energy or another motive.
