A local labor leader is accusing Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler of violating his "own order" related to re-opening by not wearing a face mask at Sgt. Pepper's Cafe in Edwardsville.
"One day after Kurt Prenzler pushed through a controversial plan to encourage businesses to reopen in violation of the State of Illinois, Prenzler appears to have been caught violating his own plan," said B. Dean Webb, president of the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor, regarding the chairman's visit on Wednesday to the Main Street eatery.
Prenzler said he wanted to support the business, which has been struggling to stay afloat amid the governor's extended stay-at-home order, after viewing a segment that aired on KMOV Tuesday night.
A lawyer who has represented Prenzler, Don Weber of Edwardsville, said Prenzler did not violate the resolution adopted by the county board 26-2 on Tuesday. Weber said wearing masks is voluntary.
"Apparently, the Democrats have nothing to offer but fear," Weber said. "We've gone from Roosevelt saying we have nothing to fear but fear itself, to Democrats saying we have nothing to offer but fear itself. They are fear mongers, chicken littles."
But Webb says Prenzler is hypocritical because the measure passed on Tuesday had very specific guidlines in place with the opening paragraph stating, "We are asking citizens to do their part to take all necessary precaustions to ensure the health, safety and well-being of everyone."
“Not only is this hypocrisy of the highest order, but he is intentionally putting workers and the public at risk by not following his own rules," Webb stated. "How can the county expect businesses and residents to follow the rules to help protect workers at these businesses if the Chairman won’t. If the County Board Chairman wants every citizen to follow this directive, he has the duty and responsibility to live by the same rules.”