Let's Dust Off the Stephenson County Code Book

Earlier this week Tutty recieved a couple of queries questioning the practice of district G Stephenson County Board member Andy Shroeder.  It seems, during official meetings of the Stephenson County Board held on the internet platform known as Zoom, Mr. Shroeder's campaign sign for elective office is prominently displayed within the frame.  The sign clearly reads "Vote Andy Shroeder".  See photos below.

There exists in Stephenson County an Ethics Code designated as Chapter 62 in the Stephenson County book of codes, hereinafter "the Code".

The code is intended to ensure that Stephenson County "officers" and "employees" adhere to certain ethical standards and that political activities are not performed on "compensated time".  The public needs to know beyond a doubt that county officials are not using our resources for their individual political ends.  It just makes sense.

The code lists 15 different "Prohibited political activites" among these activities are "Campaigning for any elected office or for or against any referendum question" (emphasis added).

So how can County Board member Shroeder not be in violation of the code?

The word "vote" is clearly visible (more so in the live feed than in this screenshot) on his campaign sign.  Is anyone really willing to argue that Mr. Shroeder didn't deliberately give his campaign sign a place of prominence in front of the camera?  He's set himself to the side of his campaign sign for God's sake.

Even if this wasn't a direct violation of the code, which Tutty believes it is, it just looks plain bad. Politics should never be intentionally interwoven with official public business.  What also looks very bad is no one, save for a few private citizens that contacted Tutty, even questioned Mr. Shroeder's practice of campaigning (again, that sign didn't walk there itself) while being paid for official county business.

Have any other officers or employees of Stephenson County,including the state's attorney, who is purportedly in charge of enforcing the code, even bothered reading what's written therein?

Another interesting part of the code is the hefty criminal penalties that it provides for violators. Here is a picture of that section.

Tutty's sincere hope is that Stephenson County officials take care of this problem before some private citizen with a rudimentary understanding of Illinois court procedure presents this issue to the 15th Judicial Circuit for review and action.  It will be easier to deal with Tutty, a nineteenth century ghost, than a real life judicial proceeding.  However, it just might make some great political theater.

As always, yours in honesty, Tutty Baker, tutty.baker@gmail.com