The McLean County Board has elected Republican Catherine Metsker Board Chair on a strict nine to eight party line vote. That vote followed the board voting to deny Democrat Jack Abraham to attend the meeting virtually. Election of a new chair was necessary as a result of the resignation by the previous chair, Republican John McIntyre, on Sept. 5.
On Thursday Abraham advised the county he was ill and would like to attend the meeting virtually. He was denied by the same nine to eight party line vote. Members routinely vote to allow members to attend remotely. Members are only eligible to attend remotely if they can not attend due to; personal illness or disability, or are dealing with other matters related to McLean County, or if they have a family or other emergency.
When asked to comment on Abraham not being allowed to attend the meeting remotely, Metsker said, “It is what happened.”
“I have never liked people to participate remotely,” said Metsker. “I have been pretty vocal about that personally but I voted in the past to let member Wentz, he was very ill, and he couldn’t be here because he was so sick. But today I voted against Abraham.”
McLean County Board member Chuck Erickson said the Democrats would have done the same thing and that the Democrats shouldn’t have been trying to take the Republican chairmanship and exploit McIntyre’s abrupt resignation due to health concerns.
Asked how Metsker might build a bridge back with the Democrat Party after what happened, Metsker said, “Continue to work, it’s the work of the county and I will continue to work as I always have with some very very good Democrats and some very very good Republicans and remind everybody as Vice Chair (Elizabeth) Johnston mentioned, we have to do the work of the county and we will continue to do that regardless of political parties or views.”
After being asked if playing political hardball helps the county, Metsker said, “I am not sure that we played hardball. I just think it’s the way it ended up.”
In his nomination of Metszker, Erickson made it clear that he was nominating Metsker due to her eight years of experience.
Johnston, who Metsker defeated for the chairmanship, has five years of experience. Johnston mentioned during her acceptance of being nominated that she has been being groomed for the position of Chair by McIntyre over the last year while serving as Vice Chair. Johnston will continue to serve in that position under Metsker.
The board appointed Democrat Eric Hansen to a vacant seat in the eighth District.
Because Jeannie Biles, who resigned the seat on Aug. 7, was a Democrat, the board was required to appoint a Democrat to the seat. Some Republicans tried to delay the appointment for a month. But a motion to do so was defeated. Delaying the vote would not have allowed the board to fill the seat as required by law in 60 days because it would have been 8-10 days past the appointment requirement. Six Republicans voted to delay the appointment anyway. Three Republicans did not vote to delay the appointment of the District 8 seat.
Erickson said there would be no statutory penalty.
“They don’t throw the County Board in jail. It wouldn’t have made that big of a difference,” said Erickson.
Delaying the appointment would’ve helped Republicans because now the board is a Democrat majority and they will have the ultimate “say” in who fills the District 5 vacancy. The District 5 vacancy has to be filled by a Republican.
As a result of the appointment Democrats now own a temporary 10 to nine majority on the county board. That will exist until a replacement is appointed for the District five seat vacated by McIntyre. That appointment is scheduled for next month.
Darin Comer, who advocated for a Democrat (Elizabeth Johnston) to be elected chairman, applied to fill the District 5 vacancy, but withdrew his application shortly after Johnston’s attempt to take the chairmanship failed.
Democrats at the next meeting will have to vote for a nominee recommended by Catherine Metsker because there will be an issue of the 60 days statute before the democrats on the board who will have the temporary majority at that time.
“That whole argument is going to be thrown right back in their face if they try to delay that appointment with someone that we want,” said Erickson.
