Park Board Member Accused Of Using Anti-Semitic Slur

NILES, IL - A park board member in Niles has been accused of using a racial slur against a resident who seeks to run for a seat on the board next year. The Journal & Topics newspaper reports of an alleged exchange between Niles Park Board Commissioner Ray Czarnik and Jason Trunco, the resident, after the board's Jan. 9 meeting.

"You (expletive) Russian Jew," is what Trunco alleges that Czarnik yelled to him when the board member was being "forcibly" removed from the doorway of a room at the Howard Leisure Center in a written account provided to the Journal & Topics.

Trunco says he has already talked with a number of organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League about Czarnik's alleged use of the slur. He also filed a police report that included accusations of physical contact, but is not seeking criminal charges.

Czarnik responded to the newspaper that he "may have called him a name" and that he regrets that.

"But I didn’t attack the guy. If I owe the public an apology, I guess it wasn’t a meeting I’m proud of.”

More via the Journal & Topics

Image via Google Maps screenshot