Dupage Policy Journal

Former Downers Grove Public Library (DGL) trustee Marti Sladek abruptly resigned in late July after making sexually explicit remarks to a library employee about a 15-year-old boy, according to internal emails from the library’s trustees provided to the DuPage Policy Journal. 

Sladek, a 79-year-old retired attorney who identifies herself as a “feminist” and “social justice advocate” with an interest in “gender equity” on LinkedIn, made the comment in response to the boy’s mother raising concerns about LGBT-themed books being read to children at the library.

Described by insiders as “deeply inappropriate,” the comment prompted internal calls for Sladek’s resignation.

The controversy was revealed in documents, including internal emails, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which were provided to the DuPage Policy Journal.

Sladek, a longtime trustee and outspoken progressive, stepped down without public explanation. But DGL emails and staff statements show Sladek’s resignation followed pressure from board leadership.

Until now, the circumstances surrounding Sladek’s sudden departure were unknown.

DGL formally announced Sladek’s departure in a short press release on July 25.

“Marti Sladek has resigned from the Library Board of Trustees. The library looks forward to working with the next Trustee appointed by the Village Council,” the library said in a press release. 

However, internal emails paint a more disturbing and complex picture about the days leading up to Sladek’s resignation.

On July 16, a library staff member reported that Sladek had made an explicit joke while recounting a confrontation with a mother concerned about LGBT content in the library.

“While at the [redacted], board member Marti Sladek made a sexual joke about a 15-year-old boy receiving oral sex under the bleachers by a football player,” the complaint from the library employee about Sladek reads. “This joke came from Marti talking about a mother coming to her in public to complain that the library presents too many gay books she doesn’t want her son exposed to. Not knowing how to respond, I laughed, and we promptly moved on from the conversation.”

A second statement offered more detail.

On July 18, Matt Topic, President of the Library Board of Trustees and a nationally recognized FOIA attorney, emailed fellow trustees with the statements attached.

“I spoke with Trustee Sladek on July 19. She recalled some specific details slightly differently from the summaries, but did not dispute the substance of the discussion or the use of comparable sexually explicit language. I am happy to provide the exact language if anyone would like it,” Topic wrote.

Sladek reportedly expressed regret and asked Topic to include the following message to trustees.

“I am devastated by this lapse of judgment. I have learned, am learning, to be and do better. Also want [redacted] to know I applaud her ethics and courage in bringing this forward,” Sladek said, according to Topic. 

Topic then reported to the rest of the trustees that he had sent the following text message to Sladek.

“I have conferred with the rest of the trustees, and the unanimous consensus is that it would not be right for you to remain on the Board. My hope is that, upon reflection, you will agree that it is in the best interest of the library for you to step down. Please take a day or two to consider and let me know by Thursday afternoon. In the meantime, we would like you not to attend Wednesday's meeting,” Topic wrote.  

Sladek resigned via email a day later on July 23.

“This is to let you know that I am stepping down from the library board, effective today, before the Director search and result of the Ad Hoc Committee become more time consuming,” Sladek said in her resignation email. 

“It has become apparent to me that my skillset will be put to better use with direct action organizations engaged in social justice and public policy advocacy in our current time.”                

“It has been an honor to serve the library and my community.” 

Sladek is known for her abrasive online commentary. Her Facebook account includes photos of her with Pride rainbow colors and a “climate justice” filter.

She was previously called out by Noel Manley, a Downers Grove Republican committeeman, for statements noting she is “fighting white Christian nationalists.”

Library Director Julie Milavec, who earns $157,306 annually, previously announced her pending resignation following sustained pressure from local community members.  

Internal emails from Milavec and DGL Marketing & Communications Manager Cindy Khatri discussing the incident with Sladek were included in the FOIA request but were fully redacted.

Despite the circumstances, Milavec responded to Sladek’s resignation with warmth.

“Marti, I am so sad to see you go. Please stop in when you're in the library next,” Milavec said of Sladek’s resignation. 

Topic also thanked Sladek for her service in an email and asked her to notify the Village Council.

“Thank you for letting me know, Marti, and thank you for your service to the library,” Topic said. “I think that you should notify the Council, but if you prefer that I do so, please let me know. I will wait to hear back from you.” 

Topic has built a national profile as a civil rights attorney and FOIA expert, currently leading lawsuits on behalf of nonprofit news organizations against artificial intelligence companies like OpenAI, owner of ChatGPT. 

He represents clients including The Intercept and the Center for Investigative Reporting in high-profile copyright cases over unauthorized use of journalism in training data.

Topic follows a number of leftist journalists and activists on X who said they would no longer use the platform after its takeover by Elon Musk, who pledged to end Biden-era censorship, later acknowledged by both Facebook and Google.

Emails show that Khatri and Topic coordinated how to present Sladek’s resignation to the public. Khatri wrote.

“We decided we would post something short and direct on the Updates page,” Khatri wrote. 

The library ultimately released just one sentence.

Former Downers Grove Mayor Martin Tully, now a commissioner and partner at law firm Redgrave LLP, reacted with disappointment at the news.

“Marti has been an exceptional trustee who will be missed. If appropriate, I would be curious as to the context. At your convenience,” Tully said in an email to Topic.

Topic replied that he would make time for a phone call.

Sladek’s resignation is the latest in an escalating culture war over public library content, particularly around LGBT issues and the role of trustees. 

Sladek was not without a public role for long. On Oct. 1 she announced she had joined the board of the DuPage Symphony Orchestra. 

“Excited to announce I am the newest Director for the Board of the DuPage Symphony Orchestra,” Sladek said in a Facebook message. “Private NGO and work in the Arts sector is a brand new venture and learning curve. I don't have formal music training but I've been going to concerts for a few years."

In recent years DGL has been defined by its embrace of leftist symbolism and cultural programming. Led by a leftist majority, the Library Board has become a political flashpoint for pushing politically-aligned cultural and ideological agendas.

The board unanimously censured and later removed its sole Republican, Bill Nienburg, who opposed eliminating the Pledge of Allegiance, criticized a “native land statement” and questioned funding for a drag queen bingo event aimed at children which featured a male cross-dressing stripper. 

Board members, including Sladek, also backed over $150,000 in taxpayer-funded anti-racism consulting that labeled Downers Grove “racist” and recommended race-based hiring. The report also promoted ideas such as “whiteness is also often extremely patriarchal” and cited “microaggressions” between Downers Grove neighborhoods as signs of systemic bias.

These actions reflect a broader trend of embedding progressive ideology into local governance under the banner of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Despite the controversy surrounding her leadership, including criticism over politically left-leaning programming and equity-focused initiatives, the Illinois Library Association named Milavec the 2025 Librarian of the Year.

The board and library leadership have faced growing backlash from residents concerned the library promotes partisan views instead of serving as a neutral public resource.

As a result, many outspoken residents have called for library board members to be elected by the public instead of being appointed by the Downers Grove Village Council.