Investigation of former Oak Brook president ends

An internal investigation that sought to determine whether former Oak Brook Village President John Craig was working full-time at his full-time job with the Illinois Secretary of State's office has concluded without a recommendation for discipline or prosecution.

But the probe by the secretary of state's inspector general, Jim Burns, did not give total absolution.

Investigators found that a year or more of Craig's “activity” sheets — which Craig is supposed to fill out, detailing the work he did each day — were not submitted to his supervisor, Burns said.

As a result, that supervisor was suspended for a week without pay, and demoted, Burns said.

In an interview with the Better Government Association, Craig said that he didn't fill out the activity sheets this past year because nobody ever gave him any to complete. And, Craig said, he indeed did account for his 2010 work by filling out other reports — but he said he “destroyed” them in recent months to make space in his state office in Lombard.

Craig, 76, disputed doing anything wrong, and insisted he worked hard and honestly for his $64,000 annual salary.

Craig, whose job title is “dealer rep,” is supposed to be on the road, traveling to auto dealers to check on license plates and paperwork. Even so, Craig's supervisor should have kept better tabs on him, and was punished because that wasn't done, officials said.

There are several dozen other dealer reps on the state payroll, records show. Investigators reviewed their work documentation, and “it was all in order,” Burns said.

Craig said he is on medical leave from the secretary of state's office. He has worked there since 2001. He was defeated in a tough election in April as he ran for another term as the part-time village president of Oak Brook.

This story was written and reported by the BGA's editor of investigations, Robert Herguth.