Dupage Policy Journal

Parts of a complaint filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections that alleges the Naperville Forward party and its chairwoman, former councilwoman Theresa Sullivan, violated campaign finance rules were found to be justified and will proceed to a public hearing, the state election board has ruled. 

The complaint filed in April by Mark Lundeen centered on a controversial political mailer sent to voters in advance of the April municipal election that claimed Naperville Forward's ballot opponents practice "extremism" and would "decide what book you and your kids can read!”

Sullivan's opponents called the dirty political mailing "dangerous" and "a complete fabrication.”

On August 18, the ISBE ruled that Lundeen was justified in filing complaints regarding how the mailer was funded and ordered a public hearing on whether Naperville Forward violated campaign finance laws.

Specifically, the hearing will determine whether the controversial flier was an independent expenditure or an in-kind contribution to Sullivan's political operation in violation of state laws.

The state election board also decided that Lundeen's claims Naperville Forward violated rules related to the required disclosure of campaign donations and expenditures were dismissed.

Finally, the state elections board did not rule on whether Sullivan, separate from Naperville Forward, was a "proper party" named in the original complaint.