Emails reveal that the Unit 5 Attorney is concerned about violations of the Election Code and State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.
Curt Richardson, the Unit 5 Attorney, stated in emails to Julie Hagler, Ben Matthews, and Nicole Nichols that the district was concerned about the stuffing of campaign mailers in elementary school teachers’ mailboxes.
“We have been made aware that the attached flyer for the Yes for Unit 5 campaign has been put in all the staff mailboxes in at least two schools (Pepper Ridge and Sugar Creek). I don’t know if you are aware of this but we have concerns that this violates the Election Code and State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Are you available to have a discussion this morning?” states the email sent from Richardson.
Julie replied with, “I will give you a call in a few minutes.”
“The case is currently being investigated by our Investigations Division. Since it is an open case we are not able to provide anything further at this time,” said Brad Park of the Normal Police Department.
Donna Leamer is the building representative at Pepper Ridge, the school mentioned in Richardson’s email. Angie Funfar is the building representative at Sugar Creek, also mentioned.
Wendy Davis, A Unit 5 Assistant Principal, took to social media and revealed that Curt Richardson addressed fliers being stuffed into teachers’ mailboxes, but said it was addressed with all staff by Curt Richardson.
Cities only obtained emails sent to Julie Hagler, Ben Matthews, and Nicole Nichols via FOIA request. Julie Hagler is the president of the Unit 5 Teachers Union (UFEA). Ben Matthews is IEA UniServ Director. In January, the IEA represented the candidates mentioned on the flier.
“I am very appreciative of IEA’s attorney, representing my campaign, and Alex Williams campaign in solidarity,” stated Mark Adams on social media.
The IEA attorney representing the candidates, Eric Madiar, who has served as legal counsel to Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Cities, on Feb. 17, 2023, was told by Unit 5 teachers that there were fliers stuffed into the mailboxes of teachers that had “Yes for Unit 5” campaign messaging.
On the flier: “The UFEA’s endorsed school board candidates are Mark Adams, Alex Williams, Kelly Pyle and Amy Roser.”
“I don’t know what Unit 5 plans to do about it, Richardson is going to have to address that. The school board should come out and say, ‘We can’t have our teachers doing this,’” said Chuck Erickson, a McLean County board member and attorney when asked about the fliers by Cities.
On Unit 5’s website there is now an “ethics” portion that says it is prohibited to be:
“Distributing, preparing for distribution, or mailing campaign literature, campaign signs, or other campaign material on behalf of any candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.”
