West Central Reporter

In the last election, 55 assessors in 36 counties, including one in McDonough County, were illegally placed on the ballot and elected, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs.

The watchdogs obtained documents, such as letters from the Illinois Department of Revenue, that confirmed 25 elected assessors did not meet education standards and 30 more did not have required certifications. Many of those assessors have since obtained qualifying certifications or provided proof of their education. Three resigned before taking office in January.

The watchdogs argue that any property tax assessments conducted by these assessors was performed illegally.

"We also contend anyone impacted by these illegal assessors actions, property owners and public bodies who received property tax, should take immediate legal action," Kirk Allen wrote for the watchdogs. "Property owners have a cause of action if they saw increases in assessments while public bodies have a cause of action if there were decreases in assessments."

Here’s the full list provided by Edgar County Watchdogs.

--

Assessors who did not meet education standards

County	Assessor	Jurisdiction	Note
Adams	Kevin Mintle	Fall Creek, Payson
Bond	Steven Shank	Central
Champaign	Robert Vilven	Ogden, Stanton	Completed educational requirements, obtained certification, and now qualifies to be appointed to office
Champaign	Kathy Pew	Urbana	Completed educational requirements, obtained certification, and now qualifies to be appointed to office
Clark	Wayne Heighton	Marshall	Registered for classes to be completed and in compliance by end of year.
Clay	Monte VanDyke	Blair, Larkinsburg, Oskaloosa
Crawford	David Veach	Honey Creek, Martin, Southwest
Cumberland	Garry Stewart	Sumpter
DeKalb	Sheila Johnson	Sandwich	Completed educational requirements, obtained certification, and now qualifies to be appointed to office
Fayette	Dorothy Austin	Loudon, Carson, Bowling Green
Fayette	Beth Tarter	N Hurricane, S Hurricane, Shafter, Bear Grove
Fayette	Kenny Joe Cook	Ramsey
Ford	Phyllis Moritz	Brenton, Pella, Mona, Rogers	Registered for classes to be completed and in compliance by end of year.
Henry	Jennifer Martin-Prescott	Kewanee	Completed educational requirements, obtained certification, and now qualifies to be appointed to office
Jackson	Cynthia Reeder	Murphysboro	Completed educational requirements, obtained certification, and now qualifies to be appointed to office
LaSalle	Bill Vogel	Dayton	Completed educational requirements, obtained certification, and now qualifies to be appointed to office
Lawrence	Virgil Potts	Bond, Petty, Russell	Resigned and did not be take office
Livingston	Gary Vilsoet	Pontiac
Macoupin	Douglas Crabtree	Nilwood, Shaws Point, Honey Point
Macoupin	Jan Meininger	Bird, Polk, Brushy Mound, Hillyard
McLean	Dee Brines	Hudson
Ogle	Michael Flick	Leaf River
Sangamon	Robert Spencer	Cartwright
Sangamon	Mark Thompson	Williams	Resigned and did not be take office
Tazewell	Vivian Hagaman	Morton	Provided documentation of classes taken, was qualified, has obtained certification to cover her for the filing period.

-

Assessors who did not have proper certification

County	Assessor	Jurisdiction	Note
Bond	Marvin Miller	Shoal Creek	Obtained certificate of qualification
Bond	Thomas Dooly	Pleasant Mound	Obtained certificate of qualification
Champaign	David Happ	Philo	Obtained certificate of qualification
Christian	Amy Funneman	Pana	Obtained certificate of qualification
Clay	Dennis Holkenbrink	Louisville	Obtained certificate of qualification
Clay	Cheryl Wathan	Songer, Xenia	Obtained certificate of qualification
Clinton	Chris Wellen	Looking Glass	Obtained certificate of qualification
DeKalb	Jennifer Cleveland	Kingston	Obtained certificate of qualification
DeKalb	Pauline Rogers	Genoa	Obtained certificate of qualification
Edgar	Pamela Julian	Embarrass, Shiloh, Young America	Obtained certificate of qualification
Henry	Kevin Urick	Alba, Loraine, Yorktown, Cornwall	Obtained certificate of qualification
Lake	Jennifer Litewski	Benton	Obtained certificate of qualification
Logan	Aaron Klockenga	Orvil, Eminence, West Lincoln	Obtained certificate of qualification
Madison	Darren Orlandi	St Jacob
Madison	Fred Michael	Helvetia	Obtained certificate of qualification
Mason	Ken Farnam	Manito	Obtained certificate of qualification
Mason	Kim Russell	Havana	Obtained certificate of qualification
McDonough	Stephen Ashwood	Eldorado, Industry, New Salem	Obtained certificate of qualification
McLean	Tim Grusy	Gridley	Obtained certificate of qualification
McLean	Glenn Milton	Randolph	Obtained certificate of qualification
Mercer	Terrie Vanopdorp	Mercer	Obtained certificate of qualification
Ogle	Robert Goelitz	Byron	Obtained certificate of qualification
Peoria	Jack Duke	Kickapoo	Obtained certificate of qualification
Rock Island	Andrea Pancrazio	Hampton	Obtained certificate of qualification
Sangamon	Carol VonLanken	Woodside	Obtained certificate of qualification
St. Clair	Claire Prindable	St. Clair	Resigned
Vermilion	Shelley Patton	Sidell	Obtained certificate of qualification
Wayne	John Schumm	Garden Hill, Orchard, Hickory Hill, Four Mile	Obtained certificate of qualification
Will	Mary Tamez	Crete	Obtained certificate of qualification
Woodford	Roger Alig	Metamora	Obtained certificate of qualification

Source: Edgar County Watchdogs