Dupage Policy Journal

State Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is being called out after adding a campaign logo to a local firetruck during the Independence Day parade.

“Apparently, some public officials are having a hard time separating politics from government assets. In this case, Hinsdale put the campaign logo of a state senator on their fire truck during the 4th of July Parade because Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton had done so much for Hinsdale,” Kevin O’Connell, an Arlington Heights resident and managing director at Ravenwood Intelligence Service, said on Facebook. “OK wonderful but its ILLEGAL!! Too Many of our public officials feel entitled to use government property, staff, and assets for their own political purposes. This needs to stop. There was an incident years ago where the Acting Mayor of Prospect Heights used Public Works Vehicles to display her Campaign signs during a Parade. This and many other bad decisions led to her not being mayor anymore.”

O’Connell warned if anyone sees 'any public official using government money for their own political purposes report it." 

"Your TAX money is not to be used for their campaigns!!!” he said.

Hinsdale has come under scrutiny for promoting a state legislator's campaign during its Fourth of July parade. A sign featuring the campaign logo of Glowiak, a Democrat, was attached to the front of a Hinsdale fire truck. Public bodies in Illinois are prohibited from endorsing political candidates, raising concerns about the village's actions. Fire Chief John Giannelli declined to comment, but Village President Tom Cauley acknowledged Hilton's assistance in securing funding for the fire truck, according to Patch. It remains unclear who within the village government authorized the placement of the sign. Alisa Kaplan from Reform for Illinois stated that using public property for campaign purposes violates the State Ethics Act.

Former state representative and gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives highlighted the scene on Twitter. 

“1000% Unethical!” Ives tweeted. “Taxpayer funds cannot be used for political purposes. Glowiak is just another corrupt Illinois Democrat.” 

Ives added that it is “No surprise that firefighters did this as their union is as bad as the teacher unions.” 

She suggested that “Hinsdale needs to fire their fire chief.”

In 2022, Hilton was successfully reelected to the state senate, representing Senate District 23, which encompasses Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Elmhurst, Western Springs, and several other towns. Records from the state Board of Elections reveal that Hilton's campaign received significant financial support, with $2 million raised, largely contributed by Democratic Party organizations and unions, Patch reported.