Will County Gazette

Practices of former DuPage Township supervisor in conflict with state law, Illinois Constitution, investigation concludes

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 25, 2019

An investigation by the DuPage Township’s law firm into former Supervisor William Mayer has validated the months-long work of a government watchdog group that sounded alarms of Mayer’s troubling, and in some instances, potentially criminal behavior, while in office.

From Prairie State Wire

Investigation into aborted remains in the hands of pro-life Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill

By W.J. Kennedy | 2 months ago

An Illinois pro-life leader said that he was encouraged that Will County authorities turned the investigation into more than 2,200 aborted remains discovered in abortion provider’s Ulrich Klopfer’s garage over to the Indiana Attorney General.

Will County board member Balich haunted by news of discovery of aborted human remains

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 17, 2019

Will County board member Steve Balich (R-Homer Glen) said that the board’s earlier inaction on a proclamation condemning the killing of babies who survive abortions now haunts him with the discovery of more than 2,000 aborted remains in the county.

GOP Chair Pearson says state House candidate Baldermann “dogged by double-dipping”

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 8, 2019

As a Republican candidate for the state House, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, 53, is almost certain to face scrutiny from voters over his receiving a publicly-funded pension check and multiple government pay checks, says George Pearson, chairman of the Will County Republican Central Committee.

Quadruple dipper Tim Baldermann eyeing state House seat

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 15, 2019

Tim Baldermann, who collects checks from four government entities, is maneuvering to add another high paying government position to his resume by assuming the House seat being vacated by a retiring Margo McDermed (R-Mokena), sources tell the Will County Gazette.

From Prairie State Wire

Pritzker’s claims of paying down pension debt “simply dishonest,” fiscal watchdog says

By W.J. Kennedy | 5 months ago

The recently approved state budget hardly makes Illinois the beacon of fiscal prudence that Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative leaders claim it is, budgetary analysts at Wirepoints say.

Steve Balich’s calls for audit of Sheriff Mike Kelley’s office due to whistleblower lawsuit ignored by board

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 7, 2019

An audit of the Will County Sheriff’s Office is the only way to get to the bottom of charges in a lawsuit of faked payroll records by higher-ups in the office, says Will County Board member Steve Balich (R-Homer Glen). But Balich says his calls for an audit have been shrugged off by the Democratically controlled board.

From Prairie State Wire

Madigan 'bullying' income tax increase through legislative process

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 months ago

House Speaker Michael Madigan used his absolute power over the legislative process to move legislation to the floor on Friday that exchanges Illinois’ constitutionally mandated flat income tax with a progressive tax.

Edgar County Watchdogs insist Bolingbrook Village Clerk hired herself as assistant

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 18, 2019

The Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) are insistent that Bolingbrook Village Clerk Carol Penning either hired herself as her own assistant, or that a law was broken, if, as she insists, someone else did the hiring.

Natalie Manley's bills eliminating township clerks, allowing local officials to earn additional salaries, trouble GOP officials, fiscal watchdogs

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 16, 2019

Two bills in Springfield sponsored by State Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet) are giving some local GOP leaders and fiscal watchdogs fits.

Election board holds hearing about former DuPage Township Supervisor Mayer’s campaign transfers

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 5, 2019

DuPage Township Trustee Alyssia Benford, who filed a complaint in January against former DuPage Township Supervisor William Mayer’s use of campaign funds, described the April 3 preliminary hearing by the State Board of Elections as “contentious.”

Civil rights sit-in leader Clarence Henderson to speak at Lincoln Day Brunch in Bolingbrook

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 20, 2019

Clarence Henderson, one of the key figures of the early civil rights movement in America, is the featured speaker at the DuPage Township Republican Organization Lincoln Day Brunch on Sunday, March 24.

Former DuPage Township Supervisor Mayer misses Board of Elections hearing

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 8, 2019

A State Board of Elections hearing into some questionable campaign transfers by former DuPage Township Supervisor William Mayer was cancelled because Mayer could not be served notice of the hearing, according to DuPage Trustee Alyssia Benford, who filed the complaint about the transfers with the board.

Mayer resigns as DuPage supervisor amid allegations of mishandling funds

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 16, 2019

DuPage Township Supervisor William Mayer announced his resignation last night at the Board of Trustees monthly meeting under mounting pressure from a government watchdog group over what it calls gross mishandling of the township’s accounts.

Drama in DuPage: Benford asks elections board to investigate Mayer's campaign account

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 14, 2019

DuPage Township Trustee Alyssia Benford has turned to the state Board of Elections to clarify whatever connections a $10,000 advance in salary to Township Supervisor William Mayer might have had with a $10,000 transfer from his campaign account.

DuPage Township may be violating Open Meetings Act

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 10, 2019

The Illinois attorney general is looking into possible multiple violations of the state’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) in DuPage Township.

Underwood’s challenger asks her to 'come clean' about voting history

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 4, 2019

Matt Quigley, the 32-year-old Naperville resident challenging newly sworn-in Congresswoman Lauren Underwood in the 14th, is asking her to explain some questionable voting practices first brought to the public’s attention by the Will County Gazette.

In wake of lawsuit, DuPage Trustee Benford wants Supervisor Mayer to resign

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 28, 2018

DuPage Township Trustee Alyssia Benford has asked Supervisor William Mayer to resign as his ethical problems and the township’s legal problems continue to mount.

Lincoln-Way North might still re-open

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 20, 2018

The prospects of reopening Lincoln-Way North High School through the creation of a new K-12 district are still alive with Summit Hill District 161’s latest decision: to seek proposals for a feasibility study.

State Board of Elections asked to investigate Underwood's voting history

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 13, 2018

An Oswego man is filing a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections concerning discrepancies he says he discovered in U.S. Rep-elect Lauren Underwood’s voting history.