Darien Official Faces Payback For Tax Stance

DARIEN, IL – Supporters of the successful referendum to increase taxes in Center Cass School District 66 are keeping their word: They are seeking the ouster of a Darien alderman.

Last month, Center Cass resident Elizabeth Uribe, who headed the campaign for the nearly 20 percent hike in the district's part of the property tax bill, formed a new political committee.

The committee is called Stronger Center Cass School District 66. In a filing with the state elections board, the committee says it supports three candidates for the Center Cass school board and one for the Darien City Council, Rachel Lazich.

Ward 6 Alderman Eric Gustafson, who is facing Lazich, spoke out against the tax increase at school board meetings and elsewhere, though not during council sessions. That angered tax increase backers, who vowed to run a candidate against Gustafson in the April 4 election.

The referendum won with a margin of 29 votes, out of nearly 6,000 cast.

As of Thursday, the committee had $200 in its account. At the same time, the main committee for the tax increase, Save Center Cass School District, still has $21,000 in its coffers. Uribe heads both groups, which share a Downers Grove address.

The new committee is supporting school board candidates Nicoletta "Nikki" Giancola-Shanks, Edson "Tripp" Burton and Tiffany Watson. Giancola-Shanks was listed as a co-chairwoman of Save Center Cass.

The other two candidates are Megan DuPass and Doug Wiley. Three seats are available in the April election. None of the incumbents are running again.

The Center Cass teachers union financed virtually the entire campaign for the tax increase. It donated nearly $80,000, which was funneled through a political committee called Diogenes to Save Center Cass. Diogenes' leadership was made up of three Center Cass teachers. It has since dissolved.

Shortly after the November election – when it appeared the referendum would fail – school board member Brian Liedtke withdrew from two city committees, criticizing the city and Gustafson.

He accused those voting against the increase of having "selfish tendencies."

Liedtke said he and other tax hike backers had found an opponent against Gustafson.

Gustafson, Lazich and Uribe did not return messages for comment Thursday.