Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker has resigned as CEO of the Illinois Correctional Industries, a position he has held since being appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2016, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW).
The ECW quoted radio station 979 XFM as saying Bloemker blamed job pressures for his decision to leave the post with the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC).
“The intense pace and heavy travel demands involved with being the CEO of Illinois Correctional Industries put too much stress on me as a father of three, a husband, and a mayor,” Bloemker said ins his resignation letter, according to 979 XFM.
Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker
ECW co-founder Jim Kraft wrote on the group's Illinois Leaks website that Bloemker was under investigation by the department for allegedly using a state vehicle for non-state business. He is also accused of conducting his mayoral duties while on the job with DOC.
In a June 26 article, ECW co-founder Kirk Allen reported that Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for Bloemker's time cards revealed that he had not taken any official time off, despite conducting city business on Tuesdays and other weekdays as needed.
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