Publications & Sites 
Winnetka candidate disturbed by anonymous letter
Updated: January 2, 2013 1:48PM
WINNETKA — Village presidential candidate Chris Rintz said he was disappointed and disturbed to receive an anonymous envelope containing a note and information about his past business dealings.
He received the letter after the Nov. 12 village caucus meeting. It contained only a short, typed message and other articles.
“If you think it’s bad what was done to Pat Livney, wait til you see what is said about you,” the letter read. “We hope you appreciate the enclosed materials and good luck.”
Materials included old newspaper articles and details about a lawsuit related to Rintz’s company, New England Builders.
“It was more personally disturbing than anything,” Rintz said Wednesday. “I was very disheartened and you can only imagine how you feel when you go out your front door and see a white envelope sitting there. My wife or my kids could have opened it up and it would have been a very disturbing experience.”
Livney was one of the original caucus nominees slated for a village trustee seat up for grabs in April’s election. Livney was removed by the caucus Oct. 18 amid concerns of an ongoing lawsuit involving him in New Mexico, and he was replaced as a caucus nominee by Joe Adams.
Before an official caucus vote at their Nov. 12 meeting, a heated debate and Q & A session between Livney and residents – those who support him and those who did not – occurred, showing a town clearly divided on the issue.
“I believe we can overcome and transcend that stuff and really do good things,” Rintz said. “It’s unfortunate there’s people in town who want to act this way.”
Rintz said he has collected more than 400 signatures to appear on the ballot opposite caucus-endorsed Gene Greable in the race for Winnetka village president. The petitions have since been filed with the village clerk.
Rintz hesitated to reveal the letter, which he received in early December, because he wants the focus to be on the issues rather than incidents like these.
“I just don’t want to see the tone set that way,” Rintz said. “There are too many other important issues in town.”
