A public records request of messages sheds some light on what happened before and after the Hudson Inclusive Playground (HIP) event where Amanda Weinstein, Samantha D’Eramo, and Kyle Brezovec campaigned and fundraised.
Messages between HIP Treasurer Greg Lawton and Councilman Chris Banweg obtained through a public records request show Banweg alerted the Board that the fundraiser was also being advertised as a political event. The HIP Board had no intention of mixing politics with the playground.
The cordial conversation reveals that Katie Madio was pushing back on the HIP’s request to remove politics. The HIP Board did not want politics involved in the fundraiser, but Madio was being problematic.
Lawton also stated the HIP Board wanted to “maintain a positive view of the city and it’s leadership.” After all, City Council funded the playground and provided a park. This completely contrasts to Amanda Weinstein’s statement that “Katie and Kelsey wanted to hear from candidates who fully support the playground at that event. Those candidates are us. Full Stop.”
Lawton made it clear the HIP Board did not want political activity at the event. Those wishes were cast to the side by Katie Madio, Amanda Weinstein, Samantha D’Eramo, and Kyle Brezovec. Yet, Amanda Weinstein and her husband Senator Casey Weinstein continue to vilify Banweg, a decorated Marine veteran and Council incumbent.
In the spirit of transparency, all 10 screenshots between Lawton and Banweg can be read below.
After attendees of the HIP event reported Amanda Weinstein, Sam D’Eramo, and Kyle Brezovec were actively campaigning and fundraising at the event, word spread fast on social media. Event host Madio started with attempting to do damage control before launching into a full blown gaslighting attack. At one point, she offered for anyone to see the video of the event as they had a videographer.
Councilman Chris Banweg messaged Madio asking for a copy of the video of the event. Madio referred him to the edited and produced video she shared on Facebook. But, two attendees mentioned that HIP Board President Megan Higgins stood next to Madio on stage while Madio gushingly endorsed her preferred candidates at the fundraiser for an inclusive playground. Madio admitted online that she did publicly endorse the candidates, but that was edited out of her promotional video. Higgins also posted a video but it does not include Madio’s endorsement.
Banweg was met with hostility from Madio. Remember that she is supporting Banweg’s opponents. Since she threatened to release the messages, we will do that here publicly.
This was an unusual tactic for Katie Madio and Kelsey Wozniak to promote their real estate business, their candidates, and the Inclusive Playground. They have only caused a public relations nightmare.
Now the Weinsteins are in damage control mode. Instead of just apologizing and saying it won’t happen again, they continue blaming their opposition for Weinstein’s “Team Hudson” and Katie Madio’s own behavior.
Much more to come!
Thank you for this enlightening article… Will there Be any consequences?
This is the small town sh*t that I hate about Hudson.
There should be zero drama about EVERYONE agreeing to build an inclusive playground. I read the full text transcripts here and it sounds like candidates were endorsed by a private citizen? I’m not really understanding the drama?
I’m very disappointed by the members of council and the mayor for turning this into a circus. Can y’all focus on more important issue than harassing a bunch of people building a playground.
Build the playground and move on!!
(and yes, I am using an email without my name because I don’t want to pulled into the drama these people somehow always manage to create even )
Hi Jane (or not Jane. You are welcome to comment here anonymously.
The issue isn’t that a private citizen endorsed candidates. It’s that this was done at a fundraiser for the Inclusive Playground which raises money under the non profit Hudson Community Foundation. The IRS law is pretty clear that those groups cannot get involved in political activity. Yet, that did happen. The candidates were put on the invitation. They openly fundraised and campaigned at the playground fundraiser. And Katie Madio acknowledged hosting the event cost her thousands of dollars. The candidates need to include that as in kind contributions on their campaign finance reports. That would be an acknowledgement of breaking Hudson’s campaign finance laws. Casey Weinstein and Kyle Brzevic were both involved with illegal PAC Clocktower Collaborative in the last Hudson election cycle. This is a pattern of “Team Hudson” not believing the laws apply to them.