Politics & Government

Mathias Discusses Water, Stone

State Rep. Sid Mathias responds to questions from a citizen and reporters about whether he's concerned about the village's water quality and whether he still supports Lisa Stone.

When State Rep. Sid Mathias was hit with a question Monday night about Buffalo Grove’s water issues, he initially tried to defer to one of his fellow panelists. But the citizen insisted that his question was for Mathias.

“I’m not sure there is an issue with the water in Buffalo Grove,” Mathias said.

“There isn’t,” the citizen responded.

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“I agree with you,” Mathias said.

The citizen later identified himself on Patch as , who has previously commented on posts by former trustee Lisa Stone. Stone has repeatedly in unincorporated Lake County that borders the village and draws its water from wells.

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Stone has , noting that he was her honorary co-chairman when she successfully campaigned for trustee in 2009, and that he didn’t campaign for her recall the following year, as did some of her other previous supporters.

Other Patch readers have responded to her comments, wondering whether Mathias continues to support Stone, who began the after .

“So where is your buddy Sid on this? Why is he absent from the debate?” one commenter, “RELENTLESSCRITIC,” asked Stone  in July. 

Mathias, who is facing Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) in the 59th District race this fall, has not publicly engaged in the discussion.

Monday night he shared some thoughts on the matter with reporters at the , responding to questions without mentioning Stone’s name.

“Silence doesn’t equate to approval of ideas,” he said. “There are a lot of people out there I have supported in the past. Just because they have an idea, I don’t feel obligated to say they are right or wrong.”

Mathias said he doesn’t perceive his position on Stone or her actions as a campaign issue.

“I hope not,” he said. “I don’t think this is a big issue.” The majority of candidates he’s backed in the past have gone on to successful tenures as trustees and village presidents, he added.

When a citizen asked Mathias, who is a former village president, to share his thoughts on Buffalo Grove's current Village Board, he described the officials as “hardworking.”

“I believe very strongly in civility. No one should attack anyone on the board personally,” he added.

He repeated that sentiment to reporters shortly after the meeting ended. When asked if his comment was a reference to Stone, he replied, “I don’t want to get into an individual contest.”

“I think people have made up their minds already,” he said.

And as for the village’s municipal water supply, which comes from Lake Michigan? 

“I drink the water,” Mathias said. “I believe 100 percent it’s safe to drink.”


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