We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com.
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SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY
It seems strange that Josh Langfelder – both during the race and after the final results were announced – never mentioned that he would even research the consolidation of the recorder’s office with the county clerk, let alone agree to eliminate that position to save the taxpayers thousands of dollars. Could it be that he is trying to drain taxpayers’ money for his personal benefits?
Frank Vala
Via illinoistimes.com
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QUESTION REAL MOTIVES
Thank you for the article “Frank Vala helped fund recorder’s race (Nov. 21). The issue presented in the article is like an onion with many layers. There are many layers to Frank Vala’s involvement in government contracts and election contributions that run deep. For example, Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray, who oversees all area elections, has never had an opponent. Yet, according to IllinoisSunshine.org, Mr. Vala and his associated Timber Ridge Properties LLC have given Gray more than $40,000 in contributions plus a $50,000 loan. Interesting, but we’ll have to peel back that layer at another time.
The onion layer I’m interested in involves Vala and Frank Lesko; they claim they want to “save taxpayer money” by eliminating unneeded government. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, NPR and the Chicago Civic Federation, Illinois ranks “first in number of local taxing bodies” among all the states (approximately 9,000), resulting in Illinois having one of the highest property tax rates in the nation. One of the best ways to give immediate property tax relief is by eliminating taxing bodies. The voters of Sangamon County and the city of Springfield understand this and voted twice to eliminate duplicative township governments within the city’s corporate limits.
In November 2018, 74% of township voters supported dissolving Capital Township. In April 2023, nearly 70% of Springfield voters supported a referendum that would dissolve all townships located within the city of Springfield’s corporate boundaries. This would mean that if your property resides within the city of Springfield corporate limits, you will no longer pay a township tax. Despite the voters’ overwhelming support, current elected officials have done nothing to dissolve township government within Springfield.
Since both Vala and Lesko are all in for saving taxpayers money, let’s see if they will personally support dissolving township government within the city of Springfield. If they publicly support the effort to dissolve the townships within the city, we will know they are genuine in their desire to save taxpayer money. If they do not, we will know that they are being disingenuous and just use political ploys at election time to further their self-interest. Keep engaged for updates.
Jim Langfelder
Springfield
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WHAT’S THE BEEF?
Frank Vala is still chair of the Springfield Airport Authority. Why does he still have a beef with the Langfelders?
Cathy Howell Woodcox
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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FOLLOW THE MONEY
The IT article failed to mention there are two Republican evening committees. The committee mentioned as having paid for the slander ad, the Sangamon County Evening Republican Committee, hasn’t received any donations since 2022 and has $950 of reported income. The other committee – the one likely to have paid for the ad but never disclosed as such – was the Illinois Evening Republican Committee. By following the A-1 reports of that committee, it’s easy to see why those who were actually behind the funding of the ad would want to keep that information in the dark and not disclose it, as required.
Those funding sources were Frank Vala ($13,700), Sangamon County Treasurer Joe Aiello ($5,000), The Republication Foundation, which received a $10,000 contribution from Misty Buscher’s campaign account, and The Republican Central Committee, which received its $5,000 from Vala.
Your article failed to mention who funded the ad, because it could not possibly have been paid for by the Sangamon County Evening Republicans, as falsely disclosed on the ad. Those arguing this doesn’t matter are arguing that the few campaign finance rules and regulations we have in place in this state simply do not matter. Given this election was decided by 31 votes, the campaign financing issue deserves to be discussed, especially from those masquerading as “public servants” yet deliberately misleading the public with ads that do not properly disclose the funding source, as required by Illinois’ campaign disclosure act.
Justin Langfelder
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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WASTE OF MONEY
Imagine wasting tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars because you’re disgruntled someone wanted to replace you on a silly board. How pathetic.
John Smith
Via illinoistimes.com
This article appears in Project censored 2024.
These are great. Vala gonna be fuming like his little temper tantrum at city council on Tuesday.
The best part of this is showing what the real Langfelders look like: spoiled brats that think they are some sort of royalty that suffer from delusions of grandeur.
There was an election they lost; respect the process; nothing stops either from running again. Both lost the election due to their own hand. The election was not decided because of Frank Vala.
Both Langfelders have had their hands deep in the special interests cookie jar.
They lost because of poor decision-making, poor attitude (that continues), and shameless pandering.
@paul – your love for frank vala knows no end. It’s beautiful. I hope you guys live happily ever after 😂
@paul barker1 – interesting how you continue to attack people but hide behind someone else’s name. Frank Vala likes to brag about how much money he donates and who he controls but yet can’t stand the negative attention when it comes to the forefront. That’s too bad. Maybe you should get thicker skin.
What’s really weird is that when I’ve been at fundraisers I’ve heard Don Gray continuously use the phrase “delusion of grandeur”. I am not sure if this is a coincidence but it sure sounds like someone who doesn’t like that the “system” is being questioned.
@taylor – that’s an interesting point… don gray would definitely have plenty of reason to defend Vala considering the funding he receives from Vala to run his campaigns against no one. 🤔
There are so many Langfelder’s in this community that the Il Times will probably make a new category next year in their BEST OF AWARDS (THE BIGGEST CRYBABIES or maybe I WILL TAKE MY BALL AND GO HOME IF YOU DON’T PLAY BY MY RULES) My bet is there will be 47 dislikes against this truthful statement when they all wake up in the morning
The only apparent cry baby is Frank Vala. Sad your money doesnt have the same affect on the Langfelder family as it does on the morally corrupt people you choose to align yourself with? Poor Frank & his bruised ego. Im sure hell go donate some money to make himself feel better and attempt to justify his attempt to control local elections and politics as caring about the community.
John Smith, Thank you for the compliment that I can control 100,000 voters. The only morally corrupt politicians I know are the last Mayor and the last Recorder and I do not align myself with them. I find it pathetic that you feel I don’t have a constitutional right to donate and vote for the most qualified candidate. Maybe you should find out who and how many people donated to Langfelder elections or is that a different understanding on how you think elections work?
Why don’t you tell the people who need help when they are facing hard times that I shouldn’t donate to help them because according to you, I just brag about taking care of those in need.
Frank Vala, notice I said attempt. That seems to be your biggest gripe, you didn’t get your way with the previous mayor and now have a pathetic vendetta. Why is it that the Airport Authority board is so important to you? Trying to hide something?
I didn’t specify donations either, spending money on incompetent candidates is hardly something to be proud of. But keep criticizing people who are actually doing good in the community & not just throwing money at problems to overcompensate for the fact that they’re devoid of character.
John Smith, you don’t understand that the final result is that the previous Mayor did not get his way with trying to use politics to control an organization that he had no authority to try to dictate his wild ideas. Read the law.
With your failure to mention me assisting those in need deserving a helping hand leads mean to think you have no compassion for the needs of the people facing hard times, but your political agenda is important to you. Are you a Langfelder using a fake name?
No, I’m someone who has actually worked in the public service arena and felt the repercussions of special interest groups over involvement in local politics. I’ve met the Langfelders though and am a fan.
John Smith, Thank you for your honesty and openness I too have worked in the public sector, and I still serve in the public sector but will not take taxpayer money to do this job.
Happy Holidays