A DeKalb alderman boycotted the Cornfest and publicized this action on WBBM radio because he was angered that the DeKalb City Council did not vote on his resolution honoring the achievements of a deceased Polish-American celebrity.

Seventh Ward Alderman Mark Powell discussed the event on the air with WBBM radio personality Dave Baum. A press release from Powell quoted Baum Aug. 22 saying on the air, “It is too bad they (the DeKalb City Council) could not pass a resolution on the passing of Aloysius Mazewski.” Baum was unavailable for comment, but his producer, Linda Hecht, said, “We’ve talked about doing another segment and we’re not interested.”

Powell said in the Aug. 29 press release, “My office must formally boycott this year’s event (Cornfest) in protest to the heartless acts of the current mayor (DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow) and the majority members of this council who on Aug. 3 and Aug. 22 voted down by their silence a resolution proposed by my office to honor a friend to Polish Americans in DeKalb, the late Aloysius A. Mazewski.”

Powell called Mazewski “a symbol for Polish Americans living in DeKalb.”

“I believe we should pay more attention to individuals who help people in our city,” said Powell, who would not elaborate about how Mazewski specifically contributed to DeKalb.

Sparrow said, “These resolutions we pass in honor of an individual are kept for our local people.”

He also indicated the boycott was insignificant.

“As you can see, this year’s Cornfest was one of the largest events we have had,” Sparrow said. “Powell’s boycott had little or no effect on the people who came out.”

In a press release received by The Northern Star Aug. 16, Powell expressed displeasure with Sparrow and called for the resignations of the three council members present at the Aug. 3 meeting in which the resolution was first introduced. The council members failed to second the resolution, “voting against Mr. Mazewski’s resolution,” Powell said.

Powell’s resolution commending Mazewski never came to a vote during a subsequent council meeting because the motion died after none of the seven council members seconded it.

“Powell is using the issue as a ‘political football,'” Sparrow said. “He has no credibility with this mayor or this city council.

“His attacks on city council members make it hard to open up lines of communication with anyone,” Sparrow said.