Scott Sinnett, Republican candidate for Dundee Township Highway Commissioner, turned to social media to share his qualifications for the position last week.
"I am not a politician, I am a hard worker just like you," he posted on Facebook. "My opponents struggle to come up with negative things to say because they know they can't touch my record of experience and my integrity."
He pointed out that he has 40 years of experience in road work, including operating the same equipment used by the highway department, and has run his own business for 30 years. He also mentioned the ongoing investigation into current Highway Commissioner Larry Braasch's activities, which include allegedly charging Sinnett's neighbors for culverts in 2013.
Henry Kolff, who lives on the same cul-de-sac, refused to pay for a new culvert. In previous years, the residents were not charged for new culverts. The highway crew dug up the ditch, but did not replace the culvert.
"It literally snaked," Kolff told the Daily Herald, referring to the now-crooked ditch. "It's terrible. I had ducks sitting in there."
Unhappy with the mess left in front of his house, Kolff collected his neighbors' receipts for checks made out to Braasch and turned them over to Sinnett. Sinnett took the receipts to the township, which instigated an investigation by the Kane County sheriff's office.
"I was involved in getting the Larry Braasch investigation going," Sinnett posted. "Folks, I'm not just going to help clean up the township – I've already started. There's no question that I'm the most qualified candidate on this ballot."
While Braasch said the complaints are politically motivated, he is also facing charges of indecent exposure and breach of peace stemming from an incident in South Carolina last June. That case is still pending.
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