Media Rushes, Gushes to Baldermann Over Gas Boycott

Tim Baldermann, the mayor of , had a clear message for residents a couple of weeks ago: "Go buy your gas somewhere else." He was frustrated with the fact that stations here were consistently charging between 5 and 20 cents more per gallon than neighboring towns. 

Within two days, gas prices dropped to below $4/gallon and were on par with other towns. Despite a recent increase, the same was seen in towns such as Frankfort and Mokena. 

Following Patch's coverage of the Village Board meeting April 23, Baldermann's phone was ringing off the hook.

All of the Chicago TV stations were interviewing him and getting shots around town. Publications like The Huffington Post and The Consumerist picked up the story. Fox Business News interviewed the mayor, and even a radio station from Pensacola, FL, called him, Baldermann said. 

"It's been pretty busy," he said. "I had no idea it was going to get this big. But it's been good. The media attention has certainly been great to have because it's drawn attention to a problem."

The Fox Business hosts gushed over the mayor, calling him "a free market guy, in Illinois. Wow." Watch the full Fox Business News interview here. 

"You are just giving us just dynamite stuff here this morning. We're used to coming to Illinois and saying look what a mess they've made ... and you're telling me the town of New Lenox is in the black, you don't have a deficit, you're paying your own way."

Baldermann said he can't keep track of how many interviews he's done, but said the message has always been the same. He thinks the media attentino also made New Lenox look good on the national level because of the residents' response and local programs like the property tax rebate.