Right off the bat spouses are always going to look out for their spouse first as their individual livelihoods are dependent upon each other. Secondly, its too easy for the CEO and finance director to collude virtually undetectable as they'd be living together as husband and wife. Third, if one of them is partaking in potentially illegal conduct, the other one has every reason in the world to help hide their matrimonial partner's misdeeds. Fourth, being married protects spouses from having to testify against each other in any matter, a marriage is its own legal entity. Anyone can increase this list.
Below is a picture that was posted on Illinois State Senator Andrew Chesney's Facebook page along with the County Board Chairmen of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Ogle Counties in northwest Illinois. The Senator's post bears his signature hashtag #nwILLINOISvalues.
It just so happens one of those county board chairman happens to be married to the elected county treasurer. Scott Helms, the Stephenson County Board Chairman is married to Stephanie Helms the Stephenson County Treasurer.
Has any member of the Stephenson County Board even thought about the ethics of this arrangement? Has any of them formally requested the Stephenson County State's attorney look into the potential legal pitfalls of this arrangement?
If this was two democrats doing this in Stephenson County Senator Andrew Chesney would literally screaming from the hill tops and authoring legislation prohibiting full time elected county officials' spouses from serving on the county board that is charged with oversight. Scott Helms is overseeing his wife's department.
I wonder if the bank where Mr. Helms works would consider having a president of the institution being married to the bank's comptroller? Would Mr. Helm's employer consider that ethical? Or do they, like most organizations, have an ethics policy preventing this type of unethical behavior?
I wonder if the bank where Mr. Helms works would consider having a president of the institution being married to the bank's comptroller? Would Mr. Helm's employer consider that ethical? Or do they, like most organizations, have an ethics policy preventing this type of unethical behavior?
So please Senator Chesney, prove you care about real values and honest ethics in northwest Illinois. Sponsor legislation that would prohibit the spouse of a full time elected county official from running for the county board? Maybe the local Republican party can talk about more than national issues on their Facebook page being we seem too struggle with ethical behavior right here in Stephenson County.
Senator Chesney and the full Stephenson County Board should be doing everything in their power to avoid even the mere appearance of unethical behavior. However Republicans around here seem willing to stick their heads in the sand when it's their own practicing questionable behavior.
Stephenson County is desperately in need of higher ethical standards.
As always, yours in honesty
John Samuel Cook, 2023
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