East Central Reporter

Shelby County is once again setting the example as to how county government is supposed to operate, yet even when the most basic of laws are enforced, the voice of opposition spews more misinformation on social media before getting the facts right.  It reminds me of the line from the play Hamlet by Shakespeare, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks“.

A quo-warranto complaint was filed by the Shelby County State’s Attorney against Shelby County Board member Teresa Boehm for holding another office not permitted by law.

According to Rose Township minutes, Boehm was appointed to the Rose Township Cemetery Board in January of 2023.  According to the Public Officers Prohibited Activities Act, 50 ILCS 105/1, such an appointment is not listed in the law as permissible and clearly states such a prohibited appointment is void. The process of voiding such an appointment is accomplished through a quo warranto filing.

Before gathering facts, Chris Boehm, son of Teresa Boehm took to social media in what appears to be another uninformed opinion piece to attack the State’s Attorney who is doing nothing more than enforcing the laws on the books.

“So, the SA is going after my mother a week after yelling at me during a public meeting, and after the Dive Team expressed support for her (because she has and will always support them and they, being honest people of integrity, recognized that).”

Holding his mother accountable to the law is not “going after” her, nor does being called out publicly for a false statement have any connection to the matter at hand. False statements seem to follow him with every post because the SA’s filing was not a week after he was “yelled” at during a meeting.  Bringing the dive team into the matter has nothing to do with the fact his mother is holding an office not permitted under the laws in the state.

“She’s also the lone Democrat on the board.”

Yes, she is the lone Democrat on the board.  This might be one of the most accurate things he has posted.  The fact she is a Democrat has nothing to do with the enforcement of law.  We know when she was not the lone democrat on the board the same law still applied, and we understand that was the reason she refused the appointment to the position of acting engineer even though the past road and bridge committee said it was legal.  After exposure to the potential violation of law in this article, Boehm refused the appointment after speaking with an attorney. 

“Apparently, this has to do with her serving on the Rose Township Board and the County Board.  Well, I believe that at least 3 other members of the county board serve on township boards (will confirm tomorrow). Why didn’t he go after them? “

Had he actually read the complaint he would have saved himself yet another misinformation post because the complaint has nothing to do with her serving on the Rose Township Board because she does not serve on the Township Board.

Why would he “go after” any county board member serving on a Township Board?  The law permits county board members to also be Township board members. Had he read the actual law he would have been able to answer his own question.  The Public Officer Simultaneous Tenure Act, section 2 spells out the acceptable Township offices for a County Board member and we note, there is no reference to Township Cemetery Board.

“Think this is retaliation?  The guy gives 48 months probation to child pornographers, can’t be bothered to do his work for probable cause hearings, is rarely in the office, but somehow finds time to go after my mother for something that may well be permitted.”

Holding elected officials accountable to the law is not retaliation and is actually his obligation. We suspect if such a thing was being done by a “Republican” and was ignored he would complain that he is not enforcing the law.  The rest of his false accusations are void of details and facts and have become his montre in his routine posts all while never once speaking with the State’s Attorney to get the facts.

“Good use of your time, Mugs. Good use of taxpayer resources. To think this group of folks ran off Nichole Kroncke to replace her with this guy. Our county leadership is a clown show. “

So when did enforcement of our laws, especially against those in elective office, become a waste of taxpayer resources?  Rather than name-calling like a child, maybe he should actually check the real record of accomplishments rather than thinking past Facebook posts about convictions were somehow exemplary service.  We find it interesting he has not taken any issue with the missing files from the computers operated by the former SA.

Saving the best for last.

“Edit: and he spelled her name wrong”.

Yep, he spelled her name wrong. He will be filing an amended complaint to correct the matter.   I wonder if he took issue with the letter Nichole Kroncke sent to the Attorney General Public Access Counselor in which Kroncke spelled her name wrong 5 times?

For those who think this is no big deal, take it up with the legislature who must have felt this was a major deal based on the penalty for violating the law.

Sec. 4. Any alderperson, member of a board of trustees, supervisor or county commissioner, or other person holding any office, either by election or appointment under the laws or constitution of this state, who violates any provision of the preceding sections, is guilty of a Class 4 felony and in addition thereto, any office or official position held by any person so convicted shall become vacant, and shall be so declared as part of the judgment of court. This Section does not apply to a violation of subsection (b) of Section 2a.

A copy of the complaint can be downloaded at this link. A copy can be found at the original source.

This story was originally published by Edgar County Watchdogs. Read the original HERE.