Ian Holzhauer Behaviour

To Council, City Manager, City Attorney, 

I am writing to express my concerns as to certain social media activity undertaken by Councilman Ian Holzhauer with respect to the Naper Pride SECA award which was heard by council apparently during the 2/1 meeting. I believe they raised serious questions which Council needs to address. 

These issues as follows:

1. It appears Councilman Holzhauer was posting on Facebook and Twitter about a City agenda item DURING the meeting in which that same item was being heard. These posts led to engagements, opinions, and feedback from the public being expressed on his page about the agenda item. Presumably no one else on the dais knew these posts and related responsive comments were occurring. 

Is it proper for a councilman to hold court online as to an agenda item as that same item is being debated on the dais? What a circus it would be if all on the dais did this? 

City attorney should explore whether or not these posts violated open meetings act rules. If they are indeed proper, I suggest the City adopt rules that would prohibit such conduct in the future.

2. Maybe more problematic, this same councilman through these posts, was clearly insinuating that his colleagues that were questioning the Naper Pride donation were doing so out of hate. He ignored the possibility that some councilmen may have been questioning whether it was prudent to continue taxpayer investment into an event that was not successful financially. He made a wholly offensive logical leap and not so subtle insinuation that hate and bigotry drove their questions. He did this publicly, in multiple posts, and apparently during the meeting. 

City attorney should explore whether or not these messages and conduct violated any rules regulating council decorum (especially if they were in fact publicly conveyed online during the meeting) and whether or not said posts merit censure. Again what a circus meetings will become if such nasty politics are regularly employed as our leaders debate what should be  treated as local, nonpartisan issues. Do we want civil discourse on our dais or not? 

I’ve attached the Edgar County Watchdog, writer Suzanne Baker, the DuPage Policy Journal, NCTV, and Positively Naperville in case any of these outlets find this email of interest. Screenshots of some of the posts are also attached.

Councilman Holzhauer please do better and try treating your colleagues, especially those that have ably served the City for a great many years, with respect.