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Resident Chris McCullough alleges political influence, campaign donations tied to personnel moves
Summary
During public comment at the Nov. 26 Bensenville meeting, Chris McCullough asked why Village Manager Evan K. Summers was being terminated and alleged campaign contributions and consulting payments to allies influenced board actions. The board did not provide an on-the-record explanation at the meeting.
At the start of public comment, Chris McCullough identified himself and raised direct questions and allegations about the manager's termination.
"My name is Chris McCullough. Why is mister Summers being terminated?" McCullough asked. He alleged the board and Village President DeSimone had close ties to Summers and to outside contractors, saying, "Will you continue to employ mister Summers' mentor, Jay D'Alejandro, who was paid $3,750 a month?" and asserting campaign contributions totaling $9,750 to date from that source.
McCullough named additional individuals and financial figures, asserting that village attorney Joe Montana and his firm had contributed "over $170,000 to various campaigns," with "dollars 20,000 has been given to mister DeSimone." He framed the termination and other actions as benefiting political allies and local developers, warning of increased industrial projects and sales of community assets such as White Pines Golf Course.
The board closed public comment without responding to those allegations on the record. The transcript contains no formal rebuttal or factual response from the board during the special meeting; the claims therefore remain unresolved in this record.
