By Jeff Vorva
The election is coming in five months, so let the hostility begin. Oh, wait. It began a while ago when the name “Gotion” came into play in Manteno.
Gotion is a Chinese-run company that wants to build a battery facility near Manteno, and residents have loudly and angrily protested the Manteno Village Board’s role in allowing it to happen.
The anger will be increased in the months leading up to the April 1 election. Longtime Mayor Tim Nugent, a huge target with the protesters, will not run again, nor will Trustees Tim Boyce and Diane Dole, nor Clerk Robin Batka.
So let the hostility continue.
After the deadline passed November 18 for candidates to file, two main groups will be battling head-to-head.
The anti-Gotion faction formed a Freedom Party and former trustee Annette LaMore is gunning for the mayor’s seat, while Mike Barry, Paul Motel, and Peggy Vaughn are on the ticket as trustee candidates, and Kerri Rolniak is running for clerk.
The Manteno Choice Party will counter with current Trustee Joel Gesky for mayor with current appointed Trustee Cameron (CJ) Boudreau joining Sherri Crawford and Annette Zimbleman aiming for the trustee spots. Stacy Malone will run for clerk.
The Choice Party’s mission statement talks about forward-thinking and progress, with no mention of Gotion.
But some residents think this will be a pro-Gotion group. Shortly after the filing deadline, the village board held its meeting, and resident David Kuiken stated his skepticism during the public comments section.
“It’s ironic that the candidates for mayor and trustees are clearly against choice for the citizens of Manteno,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what their choice is. The current Manteno cabal thinks they know better.
“They turn a deaf ear to the people’s choice. They don’t even want to hear opposing voices. They change the rules of public participation specifically to silence, as best they could, any opposition to their choices. It’s clearly evident the Choice Party is an oxymoron.”
Kuiken and other residents also spoke up about concerns about the chemicals and toxins that will be brought into the area, but the board chose not to address that.
Holiday plans
On a happier note, village Marketing and Communications Manager Jakob Knox said the holiday event will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. December 7.
“The typical events that we all look forward to will still be in place,” Knox said. “We will have Santa visits, entertainment at the (Square on Second park), a holiday market with 25 vendors, and end the night with a holiday drone show at 7:30, so there is a lot to look forward to.”
The holiday lights are scheduled to be turned on at 4:30 p.m., although that could change to a later time.