“Alderman’s comments out of line

Our elected officials should be held to a higher standard because their words and actions reflect upon the community and people they represent. That’s why we’re so baffled by Yorkville Alderman Joe Plocher’s profanity-laced online outburst against a local business and his unrepentant attitude.

After a Yorkville pub canceled a band that was supposed to play there on Plocher’s birthday because it didn’t like the crowd the band would draw — perhaps a legitimate gripe — the first-term alderman vented on the band’s MySpace page, cursing and vowing to ruin the business’ reputation. Such behavior is childish and petty even for someone not on the public payroll. We give Plocher a THUMBS DOWN because he should know better as a member of the City Council. There were certainly better ways to handle the situation.

Is this how Plocher settles personal disputes and supports local businesses? And while he regrets the bad publicity and realizes now that the Internet is indeed part of the public domain, he has expressed little regret over his statements. This is the same alderman who last fall had to pay a $300 fine and was put on court supervision after being charged in a hit-and-run accident while leaving the parking lot of a bar.

The 26-year-old alderman has a thing or two to learn about professionalism and being a leader who models good behavior in the community.”

Going from only what you’ve summarized, I’d say it’s his own fault, since it sounds like he’s using his status as a public official to threaten the establishment. I’m sure there is much more to this story.

I don’t think this would have had any impact if the blogger in question wasn’t a public official though. He would have been passed off as someone who was just frustrated and needed to vent.