Campaign has its own 'F bomb'

In his first inaugural address, Franklin D. Roosevelt told Americans “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

According to an analysis by the U.S. National Records and Archives, the speech “is particularly memorable for its attack on the psychology of the Great Depression.”

Ah, psychology – as in mind games.

While Buffalo Grove is not facing a crisis the magnitude of the Great Depression, campaigning for Village Board seats has degenerated to acrid and personal attacks which brings us to that word brought to you by the letter F.

Fear.

Fear can be a great motivator if not intimidator.

It’s role in a political campaign, at any level, is questionable.

In what appears to be a flurry of activity by Village Board trustee candidates Rachel Hausman Masse, Larry Steingold and Tim Kobler, fear has apparently become a key element. Two recently mailed flyers have targeted Village Board President candidate Mike Terson, which seems a bit odd because that’s not who they are running against. The three are supporting Terson’s opponent, incumbent Village Board President Beverly Sussman.

The first of the flyers targets questionable contributions to Terson’s campaign by Chuck Malk of CRM Properties and by Butera Center Management, which, according to the Daily Herald Town Center developer.., is a “Hoffman Estates-based company described on the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce website as owner of the Chase Plaza shopping center at the corner of Lake-Cook and Arlington Heights roads.” Malk’s firm proposed a mega retail development in 2012 when Terson was a village trustee. Malk’s donation was for $5,000; Butera’s was for $1,000.

This image used in a campaign flyer by Rachel Hausman Masse, Lawrence Steingold and Tim Kobler depicts possible flooding in Buffalo Grove.  The image is of flooding in Houston, Texas

The Herald’s story details the nature of the donations, the background and responses by both Terson and Sussman. The ensuing flyer, which apparently was not sent to all residents, made for interesting reading. It’s likely that people who read it wondered what Terson was thinking. The flyer touts that Hausman Masse, Steingold and Kobler will fight Terson’s plan to “pave over Buffalo Grove Golf Course and spend $90 million of our tax dollars to eliminate the community’s vital green and open  spaces.” Typical campaign rhetoric.

The second flyer, which like the first appeared to have limited circulation, again targets Terson and not the other trustee candidates, screamed a headline “Flooding alert!” followed by “Mike Terson’s plan for Buffalo Grove.” This ran under a picture of what gives the connotation of massive flooding in Buffalo Grove. The back of the flyer includes panic-themed copy that Hausman Masse, Steingold and Kobler understand flooding.

Apparently, they don’t. Despite inferences by some folks on social media that they remember flooding like that, the truth is that flooding pictured never occurred in Buffalo Grove. The northwest suburbs endured torrential rains in the early 1980s, but not to the magnitude shown in the flyer.

That picture was not taken in Buffalo Grove. Or anywhere else in the northwest suburbs.  Or anywhere else in Cook County, or for that matter, in Illinois.

That picture is of storm water in Houston after Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

So, what does that image invoke? Fear. And this is what will happen if the golf course is paved over. So, they say. While there are no plans to develop the golf course, it makes for good reading and scare tactics.

While flooding, not matter where it is at can be horrific, the flooding shown in the flyer was from one of the strongest storms to ever hit Texas, let alone Houston. Not Buffalo Grove.

While it’s clear the flyer was sent out by Hausman Masse, Steingold and Kobler, questions were raised as to who else, if anyone, was involved.

The first finger was pointed at State Rep. Daniel Didech (R-59) because the flyers came shortly after many voters received a letter from Didech supporting Hausman Masse, Steingold and Kobler. It was sent out by “Friends of Rachel, Tim and Larry.”

There’s nothing wrong with a public figure or official endorsing candidates. Didech has endorsed Sussman as have former Lake County Board officials Sidney Mathias and David Stolman along with former Buffalo Grove Village Board president Elliott Hartstein. As if anyone cares.

Didech seems to have drawn the most fire because of his recent election to the state house in November.

In Facebook conversations with Didech, he confirmed that he is supporting Sussman and the Hausman Masse-Steingold-Kobler slate and has personally made a “small contribution” to the campaign.

In the scope of things, it’s no big deal who supports the slate.

Interestingly enough, Didech’s letter appeared to go to most residents while the panic-loaded flyers did not. It’s easy to have conjecture as the where they were sent, especially given the strength Sussman had four years ago in the areas with proximity to the golf course.

Does history repeat itself? Possibly. If it does, then the question is why didn’t Sussman take the lead on the flyers instead of three first-time candidates whose involvement in the village has been limited?

Residents should know not only why the message was sent, but by whom, especially since communication and transparency have been frequently discussed during this campaign.

As FDR said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

That fear should not come from people seeking public office.