Huff, Sehy and Swistak: The Best Choice for a Strong Library or Any Library at All

I encourage every registered voter in the Lisle Library District to vote tomorrow, but before you do, please take a very close look at the candidates running for four-year Lisle Library District Trustee terms. The outcome of tomorrow's election could have a profound effect on the library that residents know and love.

There are stark differences between John Gardner Huff, Colleen Sehy, and Emily Swistak, who will steward tax dollars wisely and promote broad resident input to maintain a strong and effective library, and their opponents, Marjorie Bartelli and Liz Sullivan, who want to slash the library's budget, services, staff, materials, and hours, regardless of what most residents want.

Sadly, Bartelli and Sullivan have based their campaign on twisted half-truths, unfounded conspiracy theories, and outright lies designed to undermine trust in the current Board, and obscure their own true intentions for the library. They've said they're proud of the support they've received from current library Trustee, Tom Hummel. Hummel has publicly stated many times that his primary goal is to drop the library's tax levy as close to zero as possible. He would only support Bartelli and Sullivan if he had a good reason to believe they share his goal of slashing the library's tax levy, budget, and operations. If Bartelli and Sullivan are elected, the three of them will form an alliance designed to decimate the library as we know it.

John Huff, Emily Swistak and I have run an open and honest campaign. We've provided facts and information to disprove Bartelli and Sullivan's lies and explain how they've twisted information to fit their own purposes. There's a summary of Bartelli and Sullivan's lies at the top of my candidate Facebook page, along with links to Facebook posts and Patch articles that provide additional information.

As Lisle Library District Trustees, John Huff and I have worked hard to hold the line on levy increases, improve the long-term financial and operational stability of the library, and increase the transparency of library operations. Emily Swistak supports these goals.

We understand the complex issues involved in running an effective district library. It's clear that Bartelli and Sullivan understand almost nothing about these complexities. Many of their campaign promises are at odds with the laws governing district libraries and their use of tax dollars, and despite their self-professed "love" of libraries, many of their statements and promises are also strongly at odds with the American Library Association's and Illinois State Library's best practices for the effective management of public libraries.

Contrary to what Bartelli and Sullivan want you to believe, John Huff and I do not have a hidden agenda to promote a massive library building project, we don't sign "secret" contracts or violate the Open Meetings Act (OMA) at will, and most important of all, WE DO NOT LIE about the facts, about our opponents, or about our true intentions for the library.

John, Emily and I will work hard to be responsible stewards of your tax dollars and to maintain this vital community resource. We will be honored to receive your support.

their campaign on twisted half-truths and outright lies designed to undermine trust in the current Board. They're proud of the strong support they've received from current Trustee Tom Hummel, whose publicly stated goal is to bring the library's tax levy as close to zero as possible. Hummel supports Bartelli & Sullivan because he firmly believes they share his goal to slash the library's levy, budget, and operations.ilt their campaign on twisted half-truths and outright lies designed to undermine trust in the current Board. They're proud of the strong support they've received from current Trustee Tom Hummel, whose publicly stated goal is to bring the library's tax levy as close to zero as possible. Hummel supports Bartelli & Sullivan because he firmly believes they share his goal to slash the library's levy, budget, and