Berwyn, IL – The Independent Voters of Berwyn wish to express their disappointment with and condemnation of statements made recently by former colleague Ald. Nona Chapman (1^st).

We respect that Ald. Chapman no longer feels in tune with the goals of the IVB, and we’re disappointed she has chosen to join a party of divisiveness rather than one of progress.  That is her right.  However, we cannot be passive to the accusations the alderman has leveled against the IVB and Mayor Michael O’Connor.  She is absolutely wrong about what we stand for and what the IVB has done to improve the City of Berwyn.

Ald. Chapman’s membership in the IVB was revoked a year ago because she chose first to ally herself with Ald. Robert Lovero (7^th), not the other way around.  Her actions on City Council could no longer be reconciled with the ideals of the Independent Voters of Berwyn, nor, in our opinion, with the best interests of Berwyn citizens or even with her own 1^st Ward constituents.  Contrary to declarations by the alderman, the IVB never stated that she “asked too many questions,” nor did IVB bylaws require that she write a public letter to Berwyn citizens disavowing the IVB, nor was the alderman a founding member of the IVB. 

Indeed, we believe that Ald. Chapman has abruptly forgotten how to ask enough questions of the party to which she has now attached herself, the DCOB, headed by Ald. Lovero.  Having served for years in the previous administration on the city’s Budget Committee formerly chaired by Ald. Lovero, she is more than familiar with the real “pay-for-play” politics that was at that time conducted right out of City Hall, and was also present as millions and millions of dollars of taxpayer money were “lost,” all under that committee’s guise of a balanced budget. 

Also puzzling is that Ald. Chapman, who at least appeared to be standard-bearer for the IVB during the last administration, fought with and was often openly browbeaten by Ald. Lovero at that time over financial and other matters, yet now prefers his company.  Does the alderman no longer remember that, during the last administration, the city’s books were in shambles and guarded in secrecy, personnel records were virtually nonexistent, and Berwyn teetered dangerously near bankruptcy?  Is this all forgotten?

It appears that Ald. Chapman cannot remember the past and, therefore, wishes to relive it.   We remember it, and we stand behind Mayor O’Connor.  The past is a clear, unpleasant memory to us at the Independent Voters of Berwyn, and we have absolutely no intention of allowing Berwyn citizens to be put through that nightmare again

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