Will County board member Steve Balich came under fire for comments he posted on his "Will County News" webpage that referred to participants in the women’s march last month as "grumpy old women and their wives."
During the public comment period of the Feb. 16 county board meeting, three women lashed out at Balich, calling his remarks "distasteful," and "disrespectful." At least one other official said he had fielded several complaints about the comments, including calls for Balich’s resignation.
The comments, which the Homer Township Republican said he copied from a conservative website — upstream-ideas.com — have since been taken down.
The statement, which remains on the upstream-ideas website, read: "And so Trump’s unity-signaling inaugural address was quickly followed by a protest march of grumpy old women and their wives to which Susan B. Anthony would not have been welcome."
Balich posted the comments Jan. 20, the day before the march, and took it down four days later, the women said.
Virginia Rimeika, who lives in Balich’s district, said she and her husband participated in the Jan. 21 march in Chicago, part of 3.2 million who marched nationwide "without incident," protesting issues tied to President Donald Trump.
"You represent all people in your district and should apologize to those who marched for using inflammatory language so carelessly," she told Balich. "I’m tired of the callous, sexist attitude women experience every day and I am very motivated to make a positive difference in our political culture."
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After the meeting, she said she was "insulted," by his comments and felt compelled to go to Thursday’s meeting "because he will not shut up."
Rebecca Hosford said, "I am beyond grumpy that we are still in 2016 facing disrespect."
"We need to address each other with respect and dignity," she said.
Jessica Sredzinski also accused Balich of using his elected position to post anti-Muslim sentiments.
On his "Will County News" site, Balich identifies himself as a Will County board member, giving the appearance that this is county board news, she said, calling it "fraudulent."
While some people would like an apology, Sredzinski said later she would rather see Balich "temper his words a bit."
"Will County is a very diverse community, and it is wrong to target, demoralize, disrespect or diminish any group in our community. As a board member, he should be respectful to all constituents," she said.
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The county board’s Democratic minority leader Herbert Brooks Jr., D-Joliet, said he received about a half dozen complaints about Balich’s posting, and was aware that people were calling for his resignation.
Balich apologized to the county’s executive committee at its Feb. 2 meeting after board Speaker Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort Township, mentioned the responses he received from constituents regarding Balich’s comments, Brooks said.
"Apologizing to the committee does not mean a lot because we are not the ones he offended," Brooks said.
"I felt he should have apologized at (Thursday’s) county board meeting. His message would have carried further," he said, adding that he does not believe Balich should resign.
"As an elected official, we have to be mindful of our remarks," he said.
Brooks commented during the meeting, after the women spoke, saying he "certainly did not agree" with the posted comment.
Moustis and other Republican leaders did not respond to calls seeking comment.
Balich, co-founder of the Homer Township Tea Party, said he has had "Will County News," for seven years, describing it as a "personal blog" that has "nothing to do with the county."
He said he has 50,000 followers and people who know him, know that he posts "very conservative" viewpoints, he said. "People don’t have to read it."
"It was not my opinion. It was written as satire," he said of the comments. "I am sorry if I offended anyone. It’s not my intent to hurt anyone."
He said he would not resign.
Balich said he was in downtown Chicago during the Jan. 21 march and saw "all the craziness."
"I could not believe how vulgar it was," he said. "It was not about the individual rights of women, it was anti-Trump."
"This group is far, far left and they don’t like me because I’m a right-wing conservative," he said. "I have a lot of support in my area. They know where I’m coming from."
Balich said he supports equal pay and other women’s rights "100 percent" and the rights of "all citizens."
"I’m old school. I believe women should have the door held open for them, and be treated special," he said.
He also denied being anti-Muslim, but said he supports "legal immigration."
slafferty@tribpub.com
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