Chris De Los Santos, a lifelong Arcola resident, now running for city council, believes the current Mayor has threatened him.
In a video, on Facebook, Mayor Fred Burton does seem to take issue with De Los Santos:
“You need to tell him to get out this race, they play for keeps in politics, he’s got some blemishes,” Fred Burton said.
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De Los Santos admits he does have a criminal history, but wondered why, Friday, the Mayor would single him out when he is not even seeking the Mayor’s seat.
“It’s directed directly at me. I see it. And the way he’s wording it, it seems like it’s such a threat to me,” De Los Santos said.
Multiple messages to the Mayor were unreturned Friday.
In addition to the election on May 4th, on May 7th, the trial is expected to begin against Burton, filed by more than half of the sitting council members against the Mayor.
Those council members believe they’ve been railroaded time after time by the Mayor, and are not allowed to freely speak at council meetings, which often end without work getting done for the city.