Former Oak Brook Village Board member Asif Yusuf has called out current Village President Larry Herman and Board member Michael Manzo in a social media post.
In a recent post in United Oak Brook group on WhatsApp, regarding operation of the food and beverage operation of the village-owned Oak Brook Golf Club, Yusuf expressed concern over a new plan to outsource the food and beverage business.
“There are elements on the current board who have advocated outsourcing the food and beverage operation at a rent lower than our current profitability,” Yusuf wrote on his social media post. “I fear they are sabotaging the operation to justify giving it to a friend. Welcome to Oak Brook 2023 under Larry Herman, Mike Manzo, and their proxies.”
In response to being called out by Yusuf, Herman said, “I am aware of occasional antagonistic, false, and misleading attacks on social media, but I don’t let those distract me from driving the accountability agenda I set out when I ran for Village President.”
Herman added that It takes resolve to effect many of the long-needed changes in village operations.
“While some come with short-term inconveniences, the long-term benefits to the village are profound,” he said. “I’m proud of our Village Board and staff for their commitment to keep improving Oak Brook.”
Manzo said since winning in the April election, Herman and he have been unfairly and consistently attacked by former elected officials, who have decided to spread false rumors, instead of working to better the village.
“Larry and I will continue to remain focused on the betterment of our community and fulfill our promise to bring long overdue reform measures to our village,” he said. “In the past, the Village Board would discuss these problems, but never act to correct them. Our new Village President, board and manager have brought much needed accountability and professionalism to the Village of Oak Brook.”
Yusuf’s social media post came shortly after Jeff Kawucha, head golf professional/manager of the village-owned Golf Club, resigned, without giving notice and without an explanation given to village officials. His resignation came right after an Aug. 14 inventory/audit by village staff/officials found that significant discrepancies exist between reported sales and inventory versus actual inventory on hand. That prompted village officials to launch an investigation into the matter, which is ongoing.
Kawucha later told The Doings that he resigned in protest for having to terminate the employment of a team member and friend.
Herman said Kawucha was told to terminate an employee because that person was very close to going over a predetermined limit of hours worked, about which Kawucha was aware, after which point the village would have been required to contribute to a pension and other benefits for that employee.
“This situation is very concerning, the food and beverage operation at the golf course has become very profitable under Jeff’s management,” Yusuf wrote in his social media post. “I fear we will see a decline in operating results as a result of his and others departures.”
Yusuf, who ran unsuccessfully for Village President in April, losing to Herman, said he has not ruled out seeking reelection to the Village Board in 2025 or another future run for Village President. He originally was elected to a four-year term as a trustee in 2007, ran unsuccessfully in 2007 for Village President, was elected again in 2011 to the Village Board and reelected as a trustee in 2015 and 2019.
“I haven’t made a decision about a future run for office, but I am not ruling it out,” Yusuf said. “It will depend in a large part on how the current administration performs. If I feel I can contribute something, then I may run. If I feel everything is going well, the. I won’t run.
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“When it is all done, I am keeping my options open. If I am not on the ballot, I intend to support whoever I feel are the three best candidates for the job.”
When asked if his calling out of Herman and Manzo on social media already made his opinion clear on how the current administration is performing, Yusuf replied that there is a long time between now and the 2025 election.
“Good decisions can be made or not so good decisions can be made,” he said. “We will have to see how things play out.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.