East Central Reporter

The Murdock Township Road District Highway Commissioner, William Deckard, is facing scrutiny over his voter registration address. The Edgar County Watchdogs reported that Deckard does not reside within the district where he was elected. They referenced a prior article and further investigated the matter by submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for property tax records related to 103 W Main Street in Murdock, Illinois.

According to the response from Douglas County officials, “Your request has been granted; however, neither the Douglas County Supervisor of Assessments office nor 911 found any parcel associated with that address.” This raises questions about how anyone could claim residency at a location that does not exist in official records.

The Edgar County Watchdogs have provided their findings to the Douglas County State’s Attorney, requesting an investigation. The State’s Attorney responded: “Mr. Allen: Thank you for submitting this information; it will be reviewed quickly to assess for law enforcement investigation.”

The organization asserts that filing a false voter registration form may constitute criminal conduct and could result in charges if law enforcement finds sufficient evidence. Additionally, property tax records show that Deckard claims an owner-occupied exemption in Coles County, which establishes his primary residence outside the Murdock Township Road District. According to the report, Deckard also confirmed his residence during a phone conversation with a representative from Edgar County Watchdogs.

Despite these findings, Deckard maintains he rents an apartment at 103 W Main Street. However, if he claims both the rental in Murdock and owner-occupied status in Coles County, this could create legal complications regarding eligibility for public office and property tax exemptions.

Edgar County Watchdogs stated they are prepared to provide further information or affidavits should law enforcement pursue the case. The group has dealt with similar issues involving elected officials’ residency over the past 15 years and notes that such cases often lead to vacancies by operation of law when officials do not reside in their designated districts.

They continue to monitor developments and encourage law enforcement to follow up on their findings regarding Deckard’s eligibility and residency status.