VIDEO: Mathias: I Do Not Support Lisa Stone

State Rep. Sid Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove) said Monday night he wanted to make something clear.

“I do not support Lisa Stone,” he told Buffalo Grove officials and an audience of citizens who gathered for the Village Board meeting. “There is no collaboration between us. I have never supported her political agenda nor her methods or behavior at Village Board meetings. She is not now nor has she been affiliated with my campaigns for many years.” (See attached video for complete remarks.)

Stone, who was elected as a Buffalo Grove trustee in spring 2009 and , has remained vocal in government affairs as a self-described community watchdog, frequently engaging in online debates and sparring with elected officials during board meetings. She has recently praised Mathias, who served as her honorary campaign co-chairman, for not backing her recall. In online comments, she wrote that she'd campaign for his re-election this year.

“As State Representative and as the former mayor of Buffalo Grove, I have learned that our democracy and effective local government rely on open, intelligent and solution-oriented discussions of important issues,” Mathias said Monday night. “In addition, there can be no place for character assassination and name-calling directed at public officials, and a refusal by any citizen to follow the courtesies that allow our model of government to work successfully is unacceptable.”

Mathias said “a combination of things,” prompted him to respond publicly, from Jeff Berman, Steve Trilling, Beverly Sussman, Mike Terson, Andy Stein, Les Ottenheimer and Janet Sirabian. 

“More importantly, that my opponent is trying to make political hay out of it,” Mathias said.

Some residents received fliers over the weekend from supporters of State Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) who is running against Mathias in the 59th District race this fall. The flier featured a photo of Mathias with Stone along with excerpts from the letter to the editor. The heading declared, “We need more answers and fewer questions from Career Politician Sid Mathias on recalled Trustee Lisa Stone.”

Some who signed the letter, which was scribed by elected officials who said they were writing only as citizens, said Monday that they were satisfied by Mathias’ response.

“Yes,” said Sirabian. “I just wish it had been done a long time ago.” 

“I think he made his position very clear tonight,” Ottenheimer said. “It should end this issue for all. It shouldn’t have been an issue to begin with.”

“I want to see a race that’s based on real issues, and Lisa Stone became a distraction,” Stein said.

“I feel it’s a shame that our residents have to choose between two representatives that have done a good job for Buffalo Grove,” he added. “Now we can focus on real issues.”

Stone, who attended Monday’s meeting, expressed disbelief as Mathias delivered his remarks. “I am absolutely, positively at a loss for words,” she said later. “There are no good men left.”

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