After reading the letter “Tumblergate?” (Voice, May 11), I feel a need to set the record straight, again, regarding the Jesse White Tumbling Team and a recent donation by the lieutenant governor of the state of Illinois.
Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra recently donated $20,000 to create a scholarship program for college-bound members of the Jesse White Tumbling Team. It was a donation that is greatly appreciated and truly needed. It is my hope that this donation is the beginning of a scholarship program that will help young people obtain a college education. As life-long educators, Lt. Gov. Kustra and I agree that helping kids reach their dreams will benefit our entire community in the long run.
The good will offered by Lt. Gov. Kustra was quickly politicized by my political opponent, Al Salvi. Mr. Salvi rehashed old charges against me, citing alleged misuse of tumbling teams funds. Very simply, the charges are not true. And, as Mr. Salvi knows, the state’s attorney general reviewed the case and confirmed that there was no wrongdoing on my part or that of the program.
Since 1959, I have volunteered my time and money to this program, and never received one dime for my work. In fact, I contributed, on average, $16,000 of my personal money each year to the team until it obtained corporate sponsorship in 1985. Still today, I give of myself, my after-work hours and weekends to the team.
I am personally offended that Mr. Salvi would knowingly misrepresent the facts, as well as reverse himself on a pledge not to partake in negative campaigning–though I shouldn’t be surprised. Mr. Salvi has a track record of changing positions to suit his political ambitions.
The unfortunate fact in this case, however, is that he is not jeopardizing my political career; rather, he is jeopardizing a program that saves kids from the negative aspects in our communities. I strongly resent Mr. Salvi’s irresponsible comments.
