By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Ethics Commission, created eight-years ago, will consider the first complaint ever filed with the panel, and it deals with alleged ethics violations against the county clerk.
Republican County Clerk Kathy Michael, who’s in a contentious re-election battle, is accused of damaging a county-owned laptop to cover up using the computer for political purposes.
The agenda for Monday morning’s meeting calls for the commission to determine if there’s probable cause that an offense took place, and whether to refer the matter to the state’s attorney or proceed to a public hearing.
On her Facebook page, Michael said she plans to attend the meeting, although she’s not obligated to be there. “I have copies of everything,” said Michael.
“I’m on solid ground,” Michael also said.
Democratic challenger Nikita Richards, who also faces an ethics complaint, said on her Facebook page that Michael lacks “integrity and transparency” which she believes are essential characteristics for any public servant asking for votes.
The ethics complaint against Richards was filed with her employer, the City of Bloomington. She’s accused, among other things, of working on her campaign and shopping online when she was supposed to be doing city work.
Minutes from the last ethics commission meeting in late 2013 has then-assistant state’s attorney Pablo Eves, now an associate judge, saying any complaints would probably come during an election cycle, which “solicits those types of tensions.
Monday’s ethics commission meeting will start at 9 a.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center at 115 E. Washington St.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
