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* UPDATED x1 - New Proft TV ad * Curiouser and curiouser

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* The House Republicans just sent out a press release documenting Keith Matune’s arrest record. As you know, Matune is challenging Rep. Ron Sandack in the GOP primary.

The HGOP release talked about Matune’s public indecency/resisting arrest charges and the DuPage County bust for allegedly bouncing a check in Virginia, but this other arrest was news to me…

Arrest 3: Charged with criminal trespass: gaining entry to a woman’s dormitory through a window a year after leaving college

Direct from court documents:

On January 17, 1994, Keith Matune knowingly and intentionally entered the Shoemaker Cooperative after having been denied entry as evidenced by his having to enter through a window.

On January 26, 1994, the Court is advised that Matune has been arrested on warrant and posted bond. The Court orders Matune to appear in court in person on February 14, 1994. The Court advises that if Matune fails to appear a re-arrest warrant will be issued.

On February 14, 1994, Matune enters a plea of not guilty and requests trial by jury. The court sets a trial date for June 21, 1994.

On April 18, 1994, Matune signs a plea agreement and the court withholds prosecution, but orders Matune to show written proof of completion of all conditions of probation (2 payments of $50, good and lawful behavior, and not to enter the premises again).

* Kinda creepy. And check this out…

Arrest 2/conviction: Convicted of Public Indecency/Charged with Resisting Arrest – Matune does not disclose conviction on his teaching application in May, 2013 (Which is a crime in itself)

Direct from certified court documents:

On December, 18, 1992, in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Keith Matune did knowingly or intentionally, in a public place, appear in a state of nudity. Matune also did knowingly or intentionally: forcibly resist, obstruct or interfere with a law enforcement officer. The prosecuting attorney for the State of Indiana filed both charges with affidavit supporting probable cause. Matune appears before the court in Sheriff’s custody.

On April 7, 1993, Matune withdraws his plea of Not Guilty and enters a plea of Guilty to the charge of public indecency. Matune is sentenced to 1 year in jail, the sentence was suspended and Matune was placed on probation for 1 year having to meet the following conditions: pay court costs, maintain good and lawful behavior, and complete any program of counseling recommended for him by his counselors in the State of Virginia. (Matune gave law enforcement and the courts a Virginia address.)

Emphasis was added to point out that less than a year after Matune was put on one-year probation, he was busted again for breaking into that women’s dormitory.

* Now, about that “first” arrest…

Arrest 1: Felony warrant of arrest issued in Montgomery Co., Virginia
On February 3, 1991, Matune wrote a bad check for $500. On March 26, 1991 a felony warrant was issued for the arrest of Keith Matune, a hearing date was set for April 24, 1991 and Matune failed to appear. The warrant was for a felony charge of larceny by check in the amount $500 (not $150 as Matune claims).

Fugitive from justice: felony charge in Illinois

On May 3, 1991, Keith Matune was pulled over in Downers Grove for driving with bright headlights. During this stop, a routine check on the offender revealed an N.C.I.C. warrant for Matune’s arrest out of Montgomery Co., Virginia. Matune was then taken into custody. The Montgomery County Sheriff then notified the Downers Grove police that they “will immediately initiate the extradition process to return him to Montgomery County.” The DuPage County state’s attorney then authorized an additional felony charge of “fugitive from justice.” Matune was booked and taken to DuPage County jail. Court records show bail was set at $20,000.

On May 23, 1991, Matune appeared in DuPage County to face the felony charge of “fugitive from justice.” Court records state that Matune “fled the Commonwealth of Virginia with the intent to avoid prosecution for that [larceny] offense.”

The extradition was only cancelled after Matune was forced to pay restitution.

* OK, so if you look at the original Virginia arrest warrant, you’ll see that the man who swore that Matune wrote a check “with the intent to defraud, knowing that there were insufficient funds in the account to pay said check,” was a guy named Edward Jasie.

Ed Jasie is now deceased, but he was a criminal defense attorney.

So, Matune bounces a check to a noted criminal defense attorney (and a former commonwealth attorney) then heads to Illinois.

Which begs the question, might there be more to the curious case of Keith Matune?

Full document dump is here.

*** UPDATE *** Dan Proft’s new TV ad blasting Sandack and supporting Matune…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:28 pm

Comments

As I recall, the HGOP tried to warn him about this being exposed, right?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:35 pm
This man is a menace. He should not teach our children and he has no right running for office. Dan Proft is comfortable w/ criminal activity. He is so Cicero.

Comment by SonofSuperAbe2014 Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:38 pm
Well the important thing is that he was stalking and burglarizing a woman not a man.

Traditional family values!

Comment by Will Caskey Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:38 pm
20 years ago

anything since?

Comment by Walker Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:38 pm
Kinda creepy is right.

Comment by Raunerbot Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:40 pm
Keith Matune, you are a mad man. I want to party with you, cowboy. The two of us together? Forget about it.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:44 pm
47th Ward…

Congratulations, you win the Internet today

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:46 pm
No saints in this race but Matune is clearly creepy. This all ties back to Proft lets not forget. Dan Proft the Puritan sure will go to nasty and ugly lengths to clear a grudge, and kill the GOP in the process. Anyone seriously think the House GOP with Ives, Breen and Matune in it will get anything done? Me neither.

Comment by Big Muddy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:47 pm
So Proft is the GOP messaging messiah? These ads are plain awful. Are they made on PowerPoint?

Comment by Powell Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:50 pm
So it appears the thing he was charged with sneaking into is at Purdue..

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~shoecoop/aboutshoemaker.html

Seems a bit like a sorority house without being a sorority… Is there a Purdue alum who can enlighten us?

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:51 pm
Durkin is a swinging a two-by-four for his incumbent.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:51 pm
===…House GOP with Ives, Breen and Matune…===

That would be a “dream” for MJM and a nightmare for everyone else.

Can you imagine those 3 and the “collegial” way about them? You would have Breen “looking” through your window, Matune “climbing” in your window, and Ives “screaming” out the windows of the Statehouse.

Its like having John Cullerton’s “McCarter times 3″

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:51 pm
You have to wonder if this info isn’t coming out too late to make a difference.

Comment by Phil Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:51 pm
The Matune Ad is all wet.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:52 pm
Democrats are running out of popcorn watching these shows. Time for a pivot to junior mints or maybe some some chocolate covered raisins?

what a mess.

Comment by shore Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:53 pm
Proft attacks Sandack for a “rain tax”?

What next? A claim that Sandack wouldn’t have built the ark?

Comment by Walker Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:53 pm
Mostly o/t, but how can someone be a teacher in District A and a school board member in district B? Am I getting this right?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:53 pm
Think of the TV ad w/ all of Matune’s arrests…Think…How about? Protect Illinois from those darn gays: Elect a Felon

Comment by SonofSuperAbe2014 Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:55 pm
These are just times he got caught. How much other stuff did he do that they did not catch?

Comment by DuPage Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 3:56 pm
Groaner alert: Matune is clearly out of tune with his district.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:00 pm
“Curiouser and curiouser” ????

Scarier and scarier.

Just love how the ‘best and brightest’ get into politics.

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:01 pm
===Durkin is a swinging a two-by-four for his incumbent.===

Love the way Durkin goes about his business for the Caucus. It ain’t beanbag, and if you try to take “theirs” out, be ready.

Good point.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:01 pm
The man is a Kennedy in the making… it is creepy.

still Deb Mell has been arrested and bid on her current partner at an auction.

Comment by Ewwh Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:02 pm
Wonder if Dick Uihlein likes how Proft is spending his money.

Comment by Team America Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:02 pm
Read the documents, it looks like the one incident was in a computer center if I read that right.

Spent literally hundreds of hours in computer labs as an undergrad during roughly the same era at a different school (both due to my major and my job) and saw a lot of stuff, never saw that however…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:03 pm
Let me get this straight. Matune was arrested for breaking into a woman’s dorm room and for indecent exposure.

And now his ad brags about him being a GYMNASTICS COACH?

Creepy is an understatement.

But given that the narrator talks at the speed of an auctioneer, maybe no one will understand a word of it.

Comment by Reality Check Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:03 pm
OW @3:51
I just choked on my coffee reading that! Then it hit me that it could become a reality…
Answers why Dirkin is swinging the 2×4 pretty clearly doesn’t it?

Comment by Big Muddy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:05 pm
More evidence of creepy behavior from an individual with a long and well-documented sleazy history who should be kept far from the levers of power in Illinois, but enough about Dan Proft…

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:05 pm
The ad is actually issue oriented and well done. The storm water tax is a contentious issue in Dupage, especially with churches and other NFP properties. As for all the other stuff, I think the HGOP is getting a little far out there on a limb on this stuff. I like Ron, I hope he’s successful, but this thing is starting to turn into an entire party plunger in that district. The HGOP is way too involved here. Prince James D. is in trouble if Ron loses. I hope two things now. I hope Ron wins. I hope Jim learns something here.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:08 pm
OW, all kidding aside and with respect here, Jim Durkin looks like a gorilla in this situation. This ain’t protecting an incumbent anymore. This is irrational nuttiness on his part. He blows this and he’ll be the shortest leader in the history of the caucus. He succeeds and the very same might be true. Maybe I’m nuts, but he’s way off the reservation here. This is ugly and public now. If public sentiment wasn’t against this challenger before, this could cement the people who think the guy’s getting victimized. It’s weird science, but there’s absolutely nothing to admire about Durkin’s handling of this. Nothing.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:15 pm
Don’t know the guy but his Facebook says: ‘Keith has been named Illinois Teacher of the Year and is a tireless advocate for children and taxpayers who will Fight for Illinois Families.’

He looks about early 40’s. So is this 1994 item a youthful indiscretion where he got caught? I have several friends who had a number of youthful indiscretions experiences before becoming school superintendents and judges. Did this guy do the proverbial ‘turned his life around?’ Sometimes your past reminds you of what happened, not what you want to remember.

Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:15 pm
His last arrest was at age 25. Matune stated he was never arrested in a press release. He was arrested three times and convicted twice. And we have no idea what he did in VA, except bounce a check to a criminal defense attorney. Keith is fighting for Illinois families. Really?? Looks like Illinois families need a fighter to keep Keith away.

Comment by SonofSuperAbe2014 Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:19 pm
Oswego’s 3:51 comment is classic. That really sums this up.

At times I wonder if Madigan is secretly paying Proft. Certainly the Speaker must be thrilled with Proft’s efforts.

And in all seriousness, the school district needs to take a look at the criminal record. That is really creepy. I sure would not want Matune around my kids.

Comment by Smoggie Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:21 pm
The teacher of the year award appears to be from the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago

http://www.crfc.org/news/2012-teachers-year-announced

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:21 pm
- zatoichi -,

Here is the major difference;

Matune said there was nothing criminal in his past for employment and while running for the Illinois General Assembly.

Here is the rub.

Wether Matune thought, knew, hoped, prayed that nome of this might surface, Matune rolled the dice. If Matune came clean, and said, “Hey, I do have these things in my past, I want to talk about them…” Matune might have had a shot out of this.

Matune also had the option of not running and keep this private.

I feel bad for his wife, for his kids, teaching colleagues, extended family, but it appears something happened, and Matune knew more about it in 1994.

Shame on Proft for not vetting. If I was Matune, I would also send some blame to Proft for allowing me (Matune) to be put in this situation.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:22 pm
Adding — and Matune really needs to explain why he was writing a check to a criminal defense lawyer.

Comment by Smoggie Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:23 pm
Dan Proft’s ad is the one that is creepy. This guy attacks people by calling them names? I though bullying was out of fashion. Proft didn’t know how to get himself elected, so why is anyone surprised he’s backing a perv??

Comment by DateNight Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:23 pm
I wonder if the HR department at Indian Prairie Schools is having a good day today?

Comment by just askin' Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:25 pm
Maybe if Dan Rutherford can win the primary he can use Matune as his running mate. They can run on a touchy-feely platform.

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:27 pm
Oswego it is tough to blame Proft when Sandack sat down to tell Matune early that this was coming.

Also, Matune chose to take the advice of a guy that got 7% in a GOP primary. Just based on that judgment, Matune is unqualified to teach children.

Comment by Smoggie Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:33 pm
Curious if his students know….. That would have to be awkward…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:35 pm
===…when Sandack sat down to tell Matune early that this was coming.===

I addressed that above. Irony, and my point.

As to Proft and hiring and listening; People are motivated and have people around them who say they can make their dreams come true in any business. In politics, the laundry becomes public, and the mistakes are public too.

Pride, and Hubris to his past, and an enabler sometimnes make a bad cake.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:37 pm
I guess the best thing any republican in Illinois can do is avoid dan profts endorsement! There but for the grace of god go I!

Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:39 pm
And yet with all of you whispering in the cloak room, it’s a close race. And it shouldn’t be. Something is going on in voterland up there in 81. I don’t know for sure what the polling says other than what I read here, but this thing must be pretty darn close for all of the kitchen sinks being thrown around. I still maintain the HGOP is now more than a few yards out of bounds here. Ron would be a lot better off without some of this “help”.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:44 pm
Perhaps folks should reacquaint themselves with the hundreds of thousands of Cicero tax dollars Proft “engineered” for his own self-indulgence.

Dick Uihlein, Roser and the likes can’t help themselves they just keep giving and giving to the hacks – what a shame. You got to wonder why these folks don’t use their finances for the better of society and stay out of the political game or at least do research and hire credible folks.

Proft, Tillman, Rauner…bad for Illinois!

Comment by Priceless... Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:45 pm
– If public sentiment wasn’t against this challenger before, this could cement the people who think the guy’s getting victimized. –

Yeah, that happens all the time.

When was the last time? Or even once?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:45 pm
It took 45 comments for Rauner’s name to show up in one….

You guys are slackin…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:48 pm
“It took 45 comments for Rauner’s name to show up in one….”

Who’s “Rauner”?

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:52 pm
===I still maintain the HGOP is now more than a few yards out of bounds here. Ron would be a lot better off without some of this “help”.===

Unless, in the early to mid 1990s the HGOP set-up Matune on several occasions, aided in his moving to Illinois, and them got Matune pulled over ….

Then… waited nearly 20 years for Matune to apply for employment … as a teacher… and the HGOP told him to forget the arrest… and … then made sure Matune ran for st. Rep,…

Sometimes you make a messy bed that you have to sleep in.

Matune is not a victim. However, according to some reports, there may have been victims.

Love how the HGOP is going about their business. The 32 left, vying to come back one way or another, know that the Political Arm is there for rewards, and for “reminders” for choices that may effect the unity they agreed to with the election of Leader Durkin. Good on that Crew.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 4:53 pm
WS, Keep watching this one. The closer to it you get, the more you see. There are people who think there is heavy “character assassination” going on there. I’ve picked my favorite in this one. But it’s looking tougher by the day. Keep watching.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:13 pm
A Guy,
What compels you to defend a guy with the creepy record of Matune?
Is it that the far right social agenda is more important to you than the guy’s criminal history?

Or do you just have something against the minority leader?

What exactly is your reasoning?

Comment by Smoggie Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:15 pm
OW, take your pick; Anaheim or Orlando. You’re living in one or the other with your analysis here. The HGOP look like the gang that can’t shoot straight and Durkin is in the eye of a hurricane here. He could lose safe seats. Even 2 putt just lost the toss ups.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:16 pm
A Guy, someone always talks about a coming backlash to negative oppo research.

Yet everyone still does it.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:18 pm
I think I need to wear gloves when I retrieve the Matune mailings from my mailbox. And place them directly into the garbage can rather than in the recycle bin inside my house.

Eeeeeuuuuu.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:18 pm
===Durkin is in the eye of a hurricane here. ===

That is where Leaders belong, and not on the Golf Course.

How you think a thrice arrested candidate deserves kid gloves speaks again, going against that better self.

Nose/Face kinda thing?

Durkin knows exactly what he is doing, he expalined it, I am for it, and it is no secret as to the “whats or the whys”.

A thrice arrested candidate is getting a raw deal .., that is just Mickey Mouse. lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:20 pm
Do the Dem’s have anyone waiting for November? A guy just brought up an interesting point. If Matune wins MJM will dump a ton of cash into this seat, and win it. Hence Dan will win by losing?
Way to go Proft you mope.

Comment by Big Muddy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:20 pm
I wonder if Matune’s teacher license is in jeopardy. These charges were out of state so a background check in Illinois would not catch these. He should not have been able to get a teacher certificate/license with a record.

I would not be surprised if some parents filed a complaint with the state board of ed in regards to this man.

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:44 pm
== ===Durkin is in the eye of a hurricane here. ===
That is where Leaders belong, and not on the Golf Course.==

Don’t tell us, tell Two Putt.

Sorry couldn’t resist.

Comment by Toure's Latte Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:48 pm
== If Matune wins MJM will dump a ton of cash into this seat, and win it. ===

If MJM dumped a ton of cash into this race, he could win the seat whether it’s Sandack or Matune.

Lisle Township has scads of poorly organized precincts that could become Democratic strongholds with competent professional assistance.

I want the local Democrats to run someone whether it’s Sandack OR Matune to start that process this cycle. Pat Quinn will be needing all the help he can get in November, versus Bruce Rauner and a quality H81 candidate can help with the local organizing.

I don’t think Bill Foster will need the help but it wouldn’t hurt.

===

And in 2016, when it’s Hillary Clinton at the top of the ballot, House 81 should be an easy Dem pick-up.

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 5:56 pm
Bill, you served on the school board w/ Keith. I find that you have not one iota of outrage about his behavior. Interesting?? Do you think parents in your district would be extremely unhappy if a teacher lied like Keith.

Comment by SonofSuperAbe2014 Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 6:03 pm
SonofSuperAbe2014,

Everyone close to that school board knows that Keith and I did not get along very well. I am not among his greatest fans.

That said, I will not comment about the the significance of these accusations relative to the school board because (a) I do not know the entire story; (b) I no longer serve on the school board; and (c) the best interests of the district would not be served by hashing this out on a blog.

Sorry . . .

===

My #1 goal is to elect a Democrat to House 81.

Sooner rather than later.

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 6:11 pm
stalker,streeker,teacher…The Grand Old Party never ends.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 7:15 pm
Durkin is the best thing to happen to the HGOPs in a generation. He’ll pull out the stops for his caucus and they will stand by him, no matter the outcome. Any speculation to the contrary is just wishful thinking by a Durkin-hater.

Oh, and by the way, Madigan will not seriously target Sandack, the likely nominee. Madigan does not want to build on his caucus numbers. Running a super-majority is like herding cats.

Comment by Tony Strupac Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 7:24 pm
But if it’s Matune MJM comes in a plays. And wins.

Comment by Big Muddy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 8:10 pm
-and-
Scotch is having desired effect.

Comment by Big Muddy Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 8:11 pm
What the heck is wrong with Team Quinn?

Liberty Principles PAC is a shell corporation for Dick Uilhein, who gave Rauner $250,000.

Call on Rauner to denounce the transparently homophobic attacks funded by Dick Uilhein and give back the money.

We are trying to bring jobs to Illinois, and Rauner’s pal Uilhein is making us look like bigger jerks than Arizona.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 8:12 pm
If State Reps Derrick Smith and John D’Amico are still in office, this fellow will feel right at home.

Comment by Oh Come On! Thursday, Mar 6, 14 @ 8:44 pm
What we have in House 81 are two flawed candidates.

Matune is flawed for the reasons that have been discussed, including his hard right social views.

On the other hand, we have Ron Sandack who worked diligently to give the DuPage County Board the power to impose a massive stormwater utility fee without a public referendum (HB1522) - no other county in Illinois has that authority.

The very same bill (HB1522) also gives Peoria the ability to impose a stormwater fee however in that instance the fee must first be approved by referendum.

Sandack or Matune?

I say neither. I want a Democrat who will represent the interests of H81 not the interests of Dan Cronin.

Comment by Bill White Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 7:05 am
Matune acts like he has something to hide. If he did things like I did back in college during the 1990s and got caught - and these were just bad silly and inmature male acts…. and he was now more mature and sincere to serve after these arrests - THEN he would have come right out and told us.

His behavior TODAY expose him, (pun intended), as a man we should not be electing to any public office.

His behavior about this shows he is still too inmature.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 7:56 am
And what’s a Sandack? I thought those were extinct after the battle scene in one of those Star Trek movies.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 7:58 am
Is Matune still on the school board, wonder how he would feel about a teacher in the district who had undisclosed arrests and his sort of record?

Comment by OneMan Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 8:27 am
@Bill White -

Okay, so voters in DuPage County elect a board….then they don’t trust their own choice of board members, and want to require referenda before they can act to stop flooding?

Kinda crazy if you ask me.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 8:49 am
@Yellow Dog

If it is a good idea for Du Page why isn’t it a good idea for the entire state?

Also, anyone who advocates for stormwater utility “fees” has no business campaigning on an “anti-tax” platform.

Comment by Bill White Friday, Mar 7, 14 @ 8:56 am