Former District 99 Candidate Files Complaint over Endorsements

Editor's Note: This article originally stated that the District 99 race was uncontested after Martin Gorski and Henry Jakobsze announced they had withdrawn. In fact, both candidates appeared on the April 9 ballot due to missing the official deadline to withdraw. We regret the error.

A former candidate for the Downers Grove Community High School District 99 school board has filed a formal complaint against two local political groups who he claims endorsed him without his permission.

Henry Jakobsze filed a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections on Tuesday, the same day as the consolidated election, alleging that Citizens for (Julia) Beckman and the Downers Grove Community Advocates violated the Campaign Financing Act by endorsing him after he dropped out of the election on March 13. 

In the complaints, which were emailed to reporters Sunday, Jakobsze cited emails and postcards sent by both groups that listed him, incumbents Beckman and Pavesich, and newcomer Rick Pavinato as DGCA-endorsed candidates. An email dated April 6 advertised a DGCA meet-and-greet with those candidates at Emmett's Ale House the following day.

Jakobsze alleges that the groups' actions were part of a strategy to get him elected over current Vice President Deborah Boyle.

"They continued to promote me as a candidate even after I dropped out, which was unethical and misleading," Jakobsze said. "This was a calculated strategy to block the re-election of Debbie Boyle, in my opinion. That's all this was."

Beckman, who has served on the District 99 board since 1993, did not return calls for comment.

The DGCA issued a statement Friday that said its endorsement of Jakobsze was done "in good faith" after he provided answers to their candidate questionnaire in February.

The group also provided a copy of of a letter dated Feb. 13 that invited Jakobsze to participate in their March 2 candidate caucus. The letter stated that "As in years past, the DGCA plans to make endorsements for each position in this year’s election."

"Mr. Jakobsze did not contact the DGCA regarding our endorsement or his withdrawal from the race until April 6," the statement read. "It is unfortunate that Mr. Jakobsze did not respond to the DGCA's repeated attempts to clarify the media reports of his withdrawal. The DGCA regrets Mr. Jakobsze's distress and confusion, and wishes him well."

According to the Campaign Financing Act, "any political committee which solicits or receives contributions or makes expenditures on behalf of any candidate that is not authorized in writing by such candidate to do so shall include a notice on the face or front page of all literature and advertisements published and following all commercials broadcast, that are authorized by the committee and that mention the candidate, stating that the committee is not authorized by such candidate and that such candidate is not responsible for the activities of such committee."

Jakobsze claims he was initially told by Beckman, a founding member of the DGCA, that he would be asked to contribute money for any endorsement mailings. After he dropped out of the race, he assumed the endorsement would be dropped as well.

"After doing some research, I learned that becoming an elected official in the State of Illinois would create a conflict of interest for my company, which is why I dropped out," Jakobsze said. "I informed (Beckman) of my decision on March 6, and assumed that was the end of my candidacy."

Because Jakobsze and fellow Martin Gorski both dropped out after the official deadline to withdraw, both of their names appeared on the April 9 ballot.

Despite the confusion, Beckman, Boyle, Pavesich and Pavinato easily secured seats on the District 99 board Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

A spokesperson for the state board of elections confirmed that Jakobsze's complaint was received Tuesday. A closed hearing, which has yet to be scheduled, will be held to determine the validity of the allegations and whether a public hearing is needed.

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