DeKalb Times

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) doesn't understand why Democrats would stall a bill that would allow the suspension of officials charged with crimes.

“We were sending a strong message with this legislation – elected officials are not above the law,” Syverson posted on Facebook. “It’s very disappointing, and frankly hard to understand why House Democrats stopped a bill that would protect taxpayers and families. It will now be a year before this legislation can be reintroduced again.”

SB 3460 sought to temporarily remove local officials from their positions if they were charged with crimes.

Syverson argues the timing of the situation stands to make his Democratic colleagues’ actions even more impactful.

“The public is losing their confidence in the Legislature’s ability to protect them,” he added in a post to his website. Witness the horrendous crime activity coming on the heels of the Majority Party forcing through its ‘defunding of police’ legislation last year. Then comes the indictment of former House Speaker Michael Madigan and a number of Chicago-area legislators. Now the Majority Party’s action to kill a bill that would hold elected official accountable further sends the message that their leaders are not serious about protecting the public.”

Slated to have immediately gone into effect after being signed into law, the bill sought to establish: “The county board would review the alleged crimes if a county board member, county board chairman, State's Attorney, or other countywide elected official is criminally charged with an infamous crime or of any offense involving a violation of his or her official oath. A 3/5 vote of all members would determine whether that official should be placed on leave, and that the board should send their determination to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General. The State's Attorney or Attorney General would file a motion with the circuit court to place that individual on administrative leave. The county board would appoint a replacement for that individual while they were on leave as well.”

The legislation was introduced after the Winnebago County Coroner was charged with theft. A legal loophole allows countywide-elected officials to remain in their posts even as they face felony crimes.

This legislation stems from a request from Winnebago County Chairman Joe Chiarelli and was drafted by Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley. In late February, it was unanimously approved by the Senate.