McHenry County Blog

It may not be a big, important law, but Illinois does have a very weak income disclosure law.

All elected officials are required to file it annually.

Lots of notice is given.

District 15 School Board member Patrick Miller ignored those letters of reminder and missed the deadline.

Before he was removed from office, he resigned.

He, among four others applied for the vacancy.

Here’s an observation of what happened from someone on the scene:

Of four candidates who submitted their resumes and letters of intent to stand for appointment to the D15 School Board in McHenry, one Debra Hanlon emerged with impeccable credentials.

Two other community members,

• Erik Sivertsen and
• Deb Smith,

applied for the appointment, showing the drive and determination to step-up when the call went out.

Unfortunately, four board members felt compelled to appoint the same board member, Patrick Miller, who is alleged to have broken election law, ignored numerous requests for information from officials, and was ultimately forced by the State’s Attorney to resign or face prosecution.

Of the two remaining board members, one voted for Hanlon, the other abstained.

Breakdown as follows:

Paul Santopadre	Miller
Mike Hetterman	Miller
John O’Neil	Hanlon
Kim Qualls	Abstain
Ted Pillow	Miller
Melanie Orendorf	Miller

At the end of the day, it appears that it is politics as usual at McHenry’s D15.

Another source tells me that Miller did not show up for the meeting.

As you had reported on June 21st, Patrick Miller resigned from the District 15 Board of Education, with a note at the end of his resignation letter asking for the board to consider reappointing him to the vacancy.

The original deadline for resumes to be submitted was July 7th. A meeting was then held on July 12th, to appoint a replacement.

There were 2 people who submitted their resumes to be considered for the vacant position.

I was one of those two along with Mr. Miller.

The board decided to postpone their decision, until tomorrow night, August 2nd at 7:30pm, presumably due to a desire to get more than 2 people to submit their resumes.

They reopened the opportunity for those interested to submit resumes until July 28th.

In a phone call to the district office this past Friday, I was informed that there are a total of 4 people who have submitted their resumes and are being considered to fill this vacancy.

The idea that Mr. Miller might be reappointed to this position is very upsetting.

In his letter of resignation he used the term “oversight”, to explain his failing to submit his statement of economic interests.

Even if you assume that is was an oversight (regardless of the fact that he was sent 3 letters by the County Clerk, and probably reminded as he filed his statement of candidacy, as well as the numerous references to the required filing in Illinois candidate’s guide), a decision to reappoint him to this vacancy would be irresponsible to say the least.

To simply miss 3 letters requesting that you file an important document, should be enough that the board would no longer even consider him for the opening, but it seems that is not the case.

We need several concerned citizens to come out to this meeting and address the board on this issue.

We need to let the board members know that we don’t want Mr. Miller to be on the board if he is unable to respect the citizens of the district to meet the states minimal requirements.

While I am hopeful that I will be appointed to this position, I think the most important point here is that Mr. Miller cannot for the sake of the district be appointed.

If you would be kind enough to pass on this information, that would be great. Thank You for the great service that you do for the citizens of the county in keeping us informed of issues such as this.

Sincerely,

Erik Sivertsen

A press release from McHenry’s District 15 Grade School District concerning the replacement of Patrick Miller, who was forced to resign because he did not file his Statement of Economic Interest in a timely fashion:

Vacancy on District 15 School Board

McHENRY – Residents interested in serving on the McHenry Elementary District 15 school board have until July 7, 2011 to apply.

Board member Patrick Miller resigned his position on June 20, 2011. Any resident of the school district who is 18 or older is eligible to fill the vacancy. The appointee will serve until the remainder of the term which ends in April, 2013.

Superintendent Alan Hoffman said those interested should send a cover letter and résumé to him, in care of Cindee Nootbaar, at McHenry Elementary District 15, 1011 N. Green St., McHenry, IL, 60050. Or, interested candidates can send the information by e-mail to cnootbaar@d15.org.

The board has 45 days from the date of the resignation to fill the post.

This is an significant time for the McHenry Grade School District because this board will negotiate the next teachers’ contract.

Below is Miller’s resignation letter:

McHenry County Grade School District 15 Board member Patrick Miller's resignation letter.

Here are the details of those who failed to file a required Statement of Economic Interest in McHenry County this year.

Patrick Miller, a member of the McHenry Grade School District 15 Board, is the most prominent person to fail to file a Statement of Economic Interest this spring.

The penalty is the forfeiture of his board seat.

Miller was part of the incumbent coalition that homeschooling Dad John O’Neill cracked in 2007 when he came in third beating, Miller ally Geoffrey Sponholtz.

There was no contest this year as Miller and two newcomers ran for four-year terms and O’Neill sought re-election to a two-year term.

Besides Miller, there was a Lakemoor Park and Recreation Department Advisory Board member, a Hebron police officer and a Greenwood Planning Commissioner who failed to file what I call the “None, None, None” form.  To say it does not reveal much information is a large understatement.

The letter from the State’s Attorney’s Office informing Miller than he has forfeited his office by not filing the Statement of Economic Interest follows:

Against great odds, home schooler and Republican precinct committeeman John O’Neill won a seat on the McHenry Grade School board.

O’Neill, first on the ballot, placed third behind Patrick Miller and Matthew Mayer.

Miller’s running mate, Geoffrey Sponholtz drew the short straw.

The results follow:

Patrick Miller – 1,699
Matthew Mayer – 1,576
John O’Neill – 1,500
Geoffrey Sponholtz – 1,157

There is not doubt that O’Neill had the best graphics.

Against great odds, home schooler and Republican precinct committeeman John O’Neill won a seat on the McHenry Grade School board.

O’Neill, first on the ballot, placed third behind Patrick Miller and Matthew Mayer.

Miller’s running mate, Geoffrey Sponholtz drew the short straw.

The results follow:

Patrick Miller – 1,699
Matthew Mayer – 1,576
John O’Neill – 1,500
Geoffrey Sponholtz – 1,157

There is not doubt that O’Neill had the best graphics.