Dupage Policy Journal

Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico admonished Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan for engaging in “dirty politics.” 

Chirico said what Sullivan did was below the standards and has put the city in a bad light.

Chirico’s comments came just after Sullivan’s Naper Foward PAC released a mailer discussing “book bans” that were clearly not happening in Naperville or being advocated for on a local level. Chirico said by sending out the mailer Sullivan had violated the city’s ethics code which was created several months ago after questionable social media posts on behalf of city council members.

“We took that upon ourselves to set some standards to make sure that we had guidelines for all of our boards and commission members, as well as the city council, to follow so that we never put the city in an awkward situation or a bad light,” Chirico said. “In my view, the mailer that has been talked about here was inappropriate. It's dirty politics. It was done by a member of a city council. It's a bad reflection on all of us. It's a bad reflection on our city. Doesn't belong in Naperville or any local election. And it's very unfortunate. Now, as mayor. I'm also the parliamentarian of our dais. And so it's my duty to enforce rules and ordinances. And so here I am. I've always tried to be fair and consistent on the dais with everybody, and I'll continue that. And as I said, we now have a cloud over the dais because of this, Councilwoman Sullivan. And I know that this is your PAC and you certainly have every right as a citizen to do that. But as an elected official, you agreed not to take these types of positions. And so it's troubling. But that's done.” 

Sullivan apologized for the mailer but responded she was only engaging in falsehoods like other politicians.

“Politics and running elections is completely separate and we all know it and let's not also pretend that Naperville during election cycles, it's just unicorns and rainbows and everybody telling the truth about everybody else,” she said. 

In response, Chirico said Sullivan had violated the ethical code of the council.

“I think the violation is pretty clear,” Chirico said. “You're not a citizen, you're an elected official and not on your own time. You are a council person all the time. And so, unfortunately, that's the rule we all agree to, and with that, we have to live [up] to a higher standard than a citizen. And you're right, there are some dirty politics out there. And it just is disturbing to me that it's gotten to a local level, but it's more disturbing that would happen from a member of the dais.” 

Sullivan runs the Naperville Forward PAC which supports leftist politics. Former Naperville Councilman Kevin Coyne called out Sullivan over the Naperville Forward mailer for misleading voters. 

“Exactly zero local candidates have voiced any support for banning books. Our libraries are not being pursued by any local groups or candidates seeking to ban a book," Coyne said, DuPage Policy Journal earlier reported. There are also no book ban controversies now - or known to be coming - before the Naperville Library Board. This mailer, sent by the group Naperville Forward (chaired by Naperville City Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan), is a complete fabrication. Every word of this mailer is a lie.”  

Coyne reminded that “It is one thing to engage in some puffery during election season. It is something else entirely to outright lie about people." According to him, it was "an attempt to deceive voters and to incite outrage and angst amongst our residents. The lowest form of campaigning.”

The hyperbolic mailer reads, “They’ll decide what book you and your kids can read!” It also stated that “Books are under attack across the United States – challenged in droves by self-appointed ‘book police,’ who decree that scores of classics be removed from school and library shelves." On the backside, the mailer serves as a call to action. “On April 4th, Say NO to Extremism. Support These Naperville Forward Endorsed Candidates,” the mailer reads. 

The candidate listed in the mailer include mayoral candidate Benny White; council candidates Allison Longenbaugh, Rebecca Malotke-Meslin, Ashfaq Syed; Naperville Park District commissioner candidates John Risvold and Michelle Haghighi; District 203 school board candidates Joe Kozminski and Kristine Gericke; District 204 school board candidates Mark Rising, Justin Karubas and Catey Genc; and College of DuPage trustee candidate Haroon Atcha.