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.
