Politics & Government
Plainfield Trustee Reacts to Hurtado's Racism Allegations
Beset by allegations of unethical behavior, the Plainfield Park District board president has accused an elected official, residents of race-based bias.
Jim Racich — a village trustee who's been an outspoken critic of the Plainfield Park District board majority, to the point of being tossed out of board of commissioners meeting — reacted with anger to park board president Peter Hurtado's recent allegations of racism.
Racich, who also recently had a heated email exchange with fellow village board member and former park district executive director Garrett Peck — took exception to claims Hurtado made in a letter to the editor.
"I am outraged over the fact that he drew on the race card to defend himself," Racich said, referring to the fact that Hurtado has faced allegations of unethical conduct in recent weeks.
"I have come to the realization that I am now being falsely accused of wrong doing not because I raised so many questions to try to correct and undo the District’s past mistakes, but simply because of the color of my skin and the accent in my voice," Hurtado said in a letter to the editor. "In recent weeks, a Plainfield Village Trustee has publicly mocked the way I talk (by my accent)."
Though Hurtado did not name the village board member who allegedly "mocked" his accent, Racich pointed out that he's fluent in several foreign languages, including Spanish and French.
"He's showing his character," Racich said of Hurtado, referring to the most famous line in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Racich added, "I will take it one step further by saying his character is totally defective. What he's doing is trying to deflect all of the accusations against himself."
Hurtado is accused of trying to unload a shipment of LED lights on the park district using a dummy company named after his daughter's boyfriend. The company, Josue Solis & Associates, does not appear to exist, and a non-working phone number listed for the company on an invoice matches a number found on a business listing showing Hurtado as its president. Other allegations include charges of nepotism when it comes to hiring park district staff.
"He's trying to get people to go on the defensive," rather than answering the allegations, Racich said, "and it ain't working with me. I have nothing to defend."
In recent weeks, community members have spoken up at park board meetings, urging Hurtado to resign; some have even called for the resignations of fellow board members Janet Silosky and Peter Steinys.
"I call for [Hurtado's] resignation again," Racich said over the weekend.
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