Illinois Review has learned that Tuesday, the Schaumburg Township Library Board of Trustees received a September 2 letter of resignation from board Trustee Marilyn Froehlich. The resignation is expected to be discussed at the board's September 21 month meeting.
The library board's minutes indicate Mrs. Froehlich has not attended a library board meeting since March, soon after Illinois Review and Fox News Chicago began airing stories about her husband, State Rep. Paul Froehlich (D-Schaumburg). The four-term incumbent is facing public scrutiny over allegations that he may have accepted campaign donations from constituents in exchange for lower property tax assessments.
Mrs. Froehlich's husband recently reported on the State Board of Elections website taking $35,000 from his campaign coffers to hire renowned Chicago criminal defense attorney Ed Genson. Soon after, Froehlich announced he would not see re-election in the Illinois House 2010.
Mrs. Froehlich's 2007 library board race was mentioned in a news story by Elk Grove Times' Matt Keifer, in which a shooting of political consultant Victor Santana took place at a Schaumburg area construction company where Mrs. Froehlich worked at the time. The shooting at Premier Construction, which Santana called "accidental" took place in February, 2007, during a discussion about the company's owner investing in a development group.
Santana, who survived the shooting, did campaign work in the 2007 Schaumburg Library Board race for Mrs. Froehlich, fellow member and now board vice-president Adam Sesso as well as John Giovenco, Santana's cousin, who eventually lost his 2007 board bid.
Santana was recently banned from the Cook County Board of Review offices after concerns about property tax assessments appeals gathered in Froehlich's state rep office were found to have had an attorney assigned the cases at the BOR, unbeknownst to the appellants. Questions have been raised by Fox News Chicago and Illinois Review about Santana's links to State Rep. Froehlich and BOR commissioner Joseph Berrios.
Mrs. Froehlich is now employed at Schaumburg's Friendship Village retirement center.
More related stories in Illinois Review's Friends of Froehlich series.
