Kotowski, Sweeney spar in ads over tax hikes, Blagojevich

State Sen. Dan Kotowski launched his first campaign ad Tuesday to tell voters his Republican opponent's knocks are "just politics."

Meanwhile, former state Sen. Cheryl Axley - a Republican who Kotowski unseated in 2006 - entered the campaign front Tuesday to blast GOP challenger Mike Sweeney for allegedly filing Elk Grove Township's tax levy three days late.

Kotowski's 30-second cable ad comes on the heels of a TV spot run by Sweeney that tries to link the Park Ridge Democrat to Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger - an increasingly common GOP strategy in the suburbs.

Sweeney's cable ad blasts Kotowski's vote for a quarter-cent sales tax hike that helped prevent a sweeping transit shutdown and fare hikes. The ad also says Kotowski voted for pay raises for Blagojevich and tax breaks on planes, limousines and race horses.

Kotowski's ad counters that he came out against Blagojevich in 2006, supported property tax caps and protections for homeowners facing foreclosure.

"I think when you are running for office and you don't really have any solutions to offer, you go out and try to distort your opponent's record," Kotowski said of Sweeney's ad.

Sweeney said the ad is a fair characterization of Kotowski's votes.

"People need to know that he voted for an increase in the sales tax," said Sweeney, a Des Plaines resident and Elk Grove Township's clerk.

Kotowski defended the vote on the sales tax, saying mass transit is the "absolute lifeline" for residents in the 33rd District, which covers parts of Mount Prospect, Schaumburg, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village and Park Ridge.

Axley blasts fellow GOPer

At the same time, the odd pairing of Kotowski and Axley accused Sweeney of shirking his clerk duties.

Under state law, the township's tax levy was supposed to be filed with the Cook County Clerk on Dec. 26 in 2006, but the levy Sweeney was in charge of filing was stamped Dec. 29, three days late.

"(Sweeney) is obviously not focused on his township duties," said Axley, who held Sweeney's township clerk spot before moving to the state Senate. "For a township clerk to not file those documents in a timely fashion is unheard of."

Axley, who is now a state lobbyist, said she is not endorsing either candidate.

Sweeney said he personally turned in the levy file to the clerk's office on Dec. 26 and he is not sure why the time stamp shows it came on Dec. 29.

"I should have paid close attention to the date stamp," he said. "Why it was like that I don't know."

Kotowski contends the late filing could open up the township to lawsuits, but Sweeney disputes that.

Cook County Clerk spokeswoman Courtney Greve said about half a dozen township tax levies are filed late every year, but that such instances do open up the possibility for lawsuits.

Greve said the office recently reviewed Sweeney's 2006 filing after being contacted by the media and found it was filed late on Dec. 29.

Ad watch

State Sen. Dan Kotowski and Republican challenger Mike Sweeney both have cable TV ads up as they compete to represent the 33rd District covering parts northwest Cook County. Here is a closer at Sweeney's ad:

What the ad says:

"Kotowski supports raising the sales tax. Kotowski even voted to raise the sales tax on gas and prescription drugs."

What else you should know:

The statement is in reference to Kotowski's vote last year for a quarter-cent sales tax increase that funded Pace, Metra and the CTA, which where threatening shutdowns and massive fare hikes.

What the ad says:

"Kotowski also voted to provide tax breaks to the wealthy when they buy their limos, private jets and race horses."

What else you should know:

The statement references separate legislation that exempted limos from some taxes along with some other heavy commercial vehicles, extended tax breaks on breeding and race horses and suspended taxes on planes bought in Illinois, but based outside of the state.

What the ad says:

"Dan Kotowski voted for a big fat pay raise for Gov. Blagojevich."

What else you should know:

The pay increase was tucked inside legislation that included the state's budget for a number of services and it came after months of heated budget battles.