New Highway Commissioner Gets 'Political Payback,' Fires Former Commissioner's Sons-in-Law

ALGONQUIN, IL - In a move former Algonquin Township High Commissioner Robert Miller referred to as "pure political payback," the township's newly elected commissioner fired two of Miller's sons-in-law immediately after taking his oath of office on Monday, the Northwest Herald reports. Andrew Gasser narrowly won against Miller, who had served in the office for 24 years, during March's Republican primary. During his campaign, Gasser publicly decried Miller’s alleged nepotism when it came to hiring within the highway department.

• Longtime Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Ousted From Office
  

And on Monday, Miller told the Northwest Herald Gasser got his payback. "Pure political payback," to be exact.

Gasser was sworn in before the workday on Monday, a move Gasser apparently requested, and shortly after delivered termination notices to Miller's sons-in-law, Derek Lee and Andrew Rosencrans, as well as Nick Chirikos, who Miller hired to replace a retiring employee, according to the Northwest Herald.

“It’s ridiculous, and to think how that because they are related to me that they should be gotten rid of is unconscionable,” Miller said.

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, the union that represents employees of the township office, has since filed a grievance with the township, spokesman Ed Maher told the Northwest Herald.

“It’s our position that these workers did not work for one moment under Andrew Gasser – he cannot possibly meet the just-cause requirement,” Maher said.

More via the Northwest Herald

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Photo caption: Andrew Gasser/Photo via Andrew Gasser Facebook page