In the Lake County city of Waukegan, an elected official finds herself in the crosshairs of the law. City Clerk Janet Kilkelly stands accused of abusing her power, facing a 15-count indictment for official misconduct and misapplication of funds. The indictment, returned Wednesday, asserts Kilkelly improperly offered thousands of dollars in credits to businesses seeking liquor and gambling licenses, regardless of their eligibility.
The probe into Kilkelly's actions by the Illinois State Police unearthed evidence pointing to her providing these unauthorized financial benefits to businesses that lacked the "good standing" status needed for such support, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This conduct allegedly flouted guidelines established by both Kilkelly's office and the Waukegan City Council.
In response to the troubling news, Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor expressed her discouragement. "While I firmly believe in our justice system and due process, as mayor, I also know that having a multi-count felony indictment is a considerable distraction to the duties of the clerk’s office and incompatible with the best interests of Waukegan’s residents and businesses," Taylor said in a statement obtained by WGN-TV. She has plans to consult with the City Council to maintain the functionality of public-serving duties amidst this scandal.
Eric Rinehart, Lake County's State Attorney, has emphasized the gravity of breach of trust in such cases, asserting that Kilkelly's actions cost taxpayers substantially and eroded the integrity of the office. "Taxpayers lost significant amount of revenue," he said, explaining the serious nature of the misuse of positions. Kilkelly, who has held her seat since 2017, is slated to appear in court on the second day of April.
