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Curmudgeon's Corner

cur-mud-geon: anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone with the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner

Disturbing News Follow-Up...

By Al Campbell
Wednesday, Apr 30 2008, 11:12 AM

The 'Disturbing News' Blog posted on April 24th discussed the newspaper article that highlighted Trustee Langer's resignation as Campaign Finance Director for President Kempinski.  Since that time, I have reviewed the campaign finance reports for both individuals.

Copies of the 'resignation' letter written by Trustee Langer dated April 10th and the 'acknowledgement' letter written by President Kempinski dated April 12th were found in the respective folders.  Mr. Langer refers to "many changes on the forms that were turned in and have numerous changes to them that I have no knowledge of" as his reason for the resignation.  Mr. Kempinski responded in his acknowledgment letter by indicating his surprise that this happened a year after the election (for Village President), referred to the "minor amendment" that "had to be made because you did not fill the form out properly" and his statement that "What is most surprising is your failed memory in regards to your making those many changes you have referred to".  Kempinski went on, in his letter, to say that "the forms were filled out by you and signed by you".

There were two specific changes that had been made and that were acknowledged in the margins of the report.  One was noted as an "improper donation" which could mean that it was done using a corporate check rather than a personal check, for example.  The other was to a union fund that had exceeded the maximum amount permitted at that time by $50.

Of more interest were the half-dozen or more that were obliterated by the use of what I would call 'white out fluid'.  Those items are no longer legible and there are no indications present that I could see which would describe the changes made and the reasons for the changes.  The totals on the report were also changed with the use of the 'white out fluid' and there is no indication I saw as to what those changes entailed.  I have to assume that the totals were corrected to reflect the two visible changes as well as the other non-visible changes.

There is probably never going to be an answer to this puzzlement, but it all, once again, leaves me wondering what and why?

Comments

realitycheck   

Al,There are reasons those changes were made and that can be answered by the parties involved. One interesting idea might be that you might call and speak with both Trustee Langer and President Kempinski.My understanding is that a witness has come forward and actually witnessed Trustee Langer making those white out changes you refer to without the knowledge of President Kempinski. This can be verified if you actually did investigate the issue other than meeting with Charles Hargan, Pete source, and Bill Steitz at George Webb for coffee. Now if you should find that to be accurate, will you question the motives of Trustee Langer? Possibly Trustee Langer attempting a run for Village President or our next Fire Chief? Trustee Langer has now aligned himself with former President Hargan, and former Trustees Steitz and Pete Source and candidate Anita Hiliman all who have lost their bid for election. Its easy to throw mud.

May 1, 2008 6:54 AM

What is the problem   

Reality Check - You scare me!!!  If you have a witness, who saw something illegal, than as a citizen of Germantown you are as guilty as the people you are accusing!!!  Wow, I am embarrassed to read something so dumb!!!  I love how you accuse people of throwing mud, and the only one in this article is you!!!  The Truth hurts sometimes, and I guess we should just send the campaign papers to the District Attorney of Washington County, and get this whole incident cleared up - then we don't have to have this emailing!!!  Al - if you have the information, can you send it to the District Attorney, or the State Elections Board - that will make people happy!!!

I might change my name to embarrassed youth in Germantown!!!

May 1, 2008 10:43 PM

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