Lake County Gazette

No records of mandatory training required of all Illinois township supervisors exist for Daniel Didech, a Democratic competitor for the District 59 state House seat.

According to a release from the Illinois Republican Party, Didech has received no training for either the Open Meetings Act or the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

“Daniel Didech was sworn in as Vernon Township Supervisor over a year ago and according to the AG’s office has not completed OMA training as he’s required to do within 90 days by law,” Travis Sterling, executive director of the Illinois Republican Party, said a press release.

Daniel Didech | danieldidech.com/about/

Sterling chided Didech for emphasizing transparency in his campaign while failing to complete Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) training.

“A government of the people must be open and honest,” Sterling said.

The release also mentioned Holly Kim, a former mayoral candidate for the town of Mundelein, has also failed to receive FOIA training. Kim serves as director of constituent affairs, a $63,000-a-year position Didech created for her.

“Unfortunately for taxpayers Supervisor Didech has let Vernon Township run amok, creating a lucrative job for a political ally without any application process and allowing that same individual to serve as an FOIA officer despite not completing the legally required training herself,” Sterling said in the release.

Didech faces Republican challenger Karen Feldman in November. 

The 59th state House District includes the communities of Lake Forest, North Chicago, Park City and Waukegan.