Anonymous Mailer Backs 3 LTHS Hopefuls

LA GRANGE, IL – Someone somewhere is spending money to back three candidates for the Lyons Township High School board.

In recent days, an anonymous mailer has been circulating supporting candidates Tim Vlcek, David Herndon and Frank Evans.

It also criticizes Kari Dillon and Jill Beda Daniels and newcomer Tim Albores.

The flyer, which appears to be professionally done, gives no indication of who is behind the piece.

In emails to Patch, Herndon, Vlcek and Evans said they were unaware of the flyer's origins.

"This is the first I’m seeing this, and I have no idea who sent it out or who is behind it, though I do appreciate someone supporting my efforts," Vlcek said.

Evans said, "I just learned about it this afternoon from your email. I do not know who sent it out, but I’m happy to see my message resonating with people and motivating them to action."

Herndon said he appreciated the support, but had no idea where the mailer came from.

The flyer cites student performance numbers and says its three endorsed candidates "are necessary to improve LTHS."

About Daniels, the flyer says, "Incumbent who has driven poor student performance and is backed by the anti-parents rights group Indivisible," which is considered liberal.

It had a similar message about Dillon.

Earlier this month, the Western Springs Indivisible group shared on Facebook the high school teachers union's endorsement of Daniels, Dillon and Albores.

The anonymous flyer said Albores was "handpicked to run on the board approved slate." Patch could no evidence that board members "handpicked" Albores.

The seventh candidate is Justin Clark. The anonymous mailer included his name, but had no comments about him. Supporters of both factions appear to be taking a hands-off approach to Clark.

The teachers union recently circulated a mailer in support of Daniels, Dillon and Albores.

Also, a recently formed group "Support Our School," with La Grange Park resident Jonathan Almer as a leader, attacked Herndon, Evans and Vlcek in a mailer. Almer and the union have not responded to Patch's inquiries.

With the recent flyers, it appears that bigger money than usual is being spent on a local school board election.

But none of that money is represented on the state Board of Elections website, where campaign finance reports are filed. Perhaps it's because no one group this year has spent or raised at least $5,000, the threshold for reporting.