Election 2011 Blog: Candidates Flag Reader Comments Made on Their Profiles

Welcome to the Bolingbrook 2011 Election Blog, our main hub for all things election.

Leading up to the April 5 election, we will update this space with pertinent news, announcements, events, links and more. 

Bookmark the link, check in and offer comments. If you know of any election news, want to submit an endorsement or have any questions or suggestions, e-mail Local Editor Brian Feldt at brianf@patch.com.

Thanks for reading!

March 22: Board of Trustees candidates flag comments made on their own profiles

Two candidates vying for a seat on the Village of Bolingbrook Board of Trustees flagged comments made on their  on Bolingbrook Patch, thus making the comments disappear for readers.

Both  and  said they flagged comments made by other readers on their own profiles. Once a comment is flagged a certain number of times, that comment is hidden from readers' view. 

Questions arose as to whether readers were simply flagging comments to get them hidden from public view or because they actually violated Patch's Terms of Use. After further investigation to reset the flag count on many of the comments that did not violate Patch's Terms of Use, it was found that both Bowen and Cygan had flagged comments made on their profiles.

Cygan said he flagged several comments after they accused him of plagiarizing a former candidates campaign platform—an allegation he says is not true. 

"I'm all about free speech but it was getting ridiculous," Cygan said. "I don't have the money others have and the only avenue I have to get my word out is sites like this [Bolingbrook Patch]. Some people might [take those comments] seriously."

Upon review, the comments Cygan flagged did violate Patch's Terms of Use.

Bob Bowen said he flagged one comment made by another reader on his candidate profile page to see if the flagging option was working properly and to find out the reason behind Bolingbrook Patch's bias against his and other campaigns. 

The comment asked Bowen why he did not answer all the questions in Bolingbrook Patch's candidate questionnaire. 

"I clicked [the flag link] at least three times," he said. "Was it eight? Was it 10? I don't know."

Upon review, the comment did not violate Patch's Terms of Use and has been restored on the site.

Editor's Note: Bolingbrook Patch is working diligently to review comments made on this site, particularly on candidate profiles. However, with the amount of comments made, it will take time to restore every comment that did not violate Patch's Terms of Use. We thank you for your patience.

-Brian Feldt

March 21: Alleged stolen signs likely confiscated by Public Works

Campaign signs that were allegedly stolen last week were likely confiscated by the village's public works department, Bolingbrook officials say. 

Public Works Director Michael Drey said people claiming signs have been stolen has been an issue for nearly every election over the past decade, when really, those signs are taken by village crews because they violate the Chapter 29 of the village's municipal code.

"It was a problem back 30 years ago as it is an issue today," Drey said. "The zoning ordinance clearly tells (candidates) cannot place any signs on village property or in the right of way of village property. And as long as I can remember, it's been a directive of the administration to enforce that." 

The signs aren't taken for good. Rather, they are pitched to the side of the public works building on Canterbury where they can be picked up for no fine or fee.

Bonnie Alicea, who was , said dozens of the signs she put up for candidates including Bob Bowen and Rhonda Reed-Slaughter went missing last week.

"I know exactly where they were," she said, inferring she put the signs in a legal space. "I went through all this last time."

Alicea said hundreds of signs of hers were stolen last year, when she attempted to dethrone Mayor Roger Claar.

As of last week, Bolingbrook Police said there had been no reports of stolen campaign signs.

Editor's Note: Bonnie Alicea said the signs she alleged were stolen were all on private property. 

-Brian Feldt

March 11: Valley View candidates make their case at chamber forum

Candidates running for the April 5 school board election made their cases as to how they could address several district issues, including a projected $9.7 million budget deficit and test scores trending in the wrong direction.

Nine of the 10 candidates running for a seat on the spoke Thursday at a Meet the Candidates Forum sponsored by the Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Candidates were given three minutes to talk about whatever they wanted, although most focused on their ability to make tough financial decisions or close the achievement gap.

To read the full story, click . 

-Brian Feldt

March 10: Valley View candidate forum

Bolingbrook residents can learn more about the candidates for the  during a candidates forum at Thursday night at 5:30 p.m.

The event is the second forum sponsored by the Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce. The organization previously held a forum prior to the November 2010 election.

Each candidate will get three minutes to give a prepared statement, according to chamber President and CEO Bridget Domberg.

The event is free and open to the public.

Ten candidates are seeking four spots on the Valley View Board of Education, including three four-year seats and one two-year term.

The event also will be a forum for candidates for the Romeoville village board and the Des Plaines Valley Public Library District.

-Shannon Antinori

March 10: Some rules and regulations

Patch at its best is an open forum for Bolingbrook residents to read about and discuss the news most important to them—the news about their hometown.

It’s great that people are commenting on the election information that’s been posted within the past week on Patch. For all the talk of voter apathy in this day and age, it’s great to see an engaged public that cares about their town.

However, in order to ensure that Patch is a place for open and valuable dialogue, I have a few reminders. 

Click to read those reminders. And click HERE to read our Terms of Use regarding comments.

-Brian Feldt

March 10: Union endorses Valley View candidates

The Valley View Council of American Federation of Teachers Local 604 has endorsed ,  and  for the four-year term positions and for the two-year term on the Valley View District 365-U Board of Education.

For the complete story, click . 

-Brian Feldt

March 7: Last call for voter registration

Tuesday marks the last day Bolingbrook residents can register to vote in the April 5 election. 

For more information on voter registration, contact the Will County clerk's office HERE, or call 815-740-4620.

Any U.S. citizen of age can register so long as they show two forms of identification with your current name and address. Those forms of identification include:

• Driver's license
• State ID card
• Utility bill
• Checkbook
• Library card
• Credit card
• Birth certificate
• Social Security card
• Employee ID card
• Student ID card
• Insurance card

- Brian Feldt

March 3: Now introducing... your candidates

Bolingbrook Patch introduces its .

The page consists of candidates for the Village of Bolingbrook Board of Trustees, Valley View School District 365U Board of Education, Fountaindale Public Library Board of Trustees and Bolingbrook Park District Board of Commissioners. 

- Brian Feldt