Shaughnessy named Antioch Township Supervisor
Tom Shaughnessy, who narrowly missed being elected to the post last spring, was named Antioch Township supervisor Thursday.
Trustees voted 3-0 with Trustee Peter Grant voting present, to appoint Shaughnessy, a former township trustee, to fill the post left open by the recent death of longtime supervisor Steve Smouse.
Smouse died Nov. 5 just 16 days after being diagnosed with cancer, and his passing shocked supporters. He had served as township supervisor since 1999 and was well known in the community.
Township Trustee Judith Davis became temporary supervisor shortly after Smouse died. Shaughnessy, who lost to Smouse by 73 votes, will serve until a special election in 2019. He did not attend the meeting and was not immediately available.
"He ran a great campaign," Trustee Steve Turner, who made the motion to appoint Shaughnessy, said after the meeting. "The fact he lost by 73 votes tells me a lot of people wanted him."
Turner was joined by Davis and Trustee Kris Shepard in support, but it wasn't all smooth sailing.
Grant suggested the matter be tabled, citing an ongoing review by the Illinois Attorney General's office to determine whether the board violated the Open Meetings Act when it went into executive session on Nov. 16 to consider the process for replacing Smouse.
The office has requested copies of open and closed session minutes and recording of the closed session. Grant voted against going into that closed session. He contended if it is found illegal, the Shaughnessy decision could be undone.
"I asked for a transparent process," said Grant. "Nobody has been given any consideration. You basically railroaded this through."
If a replacement wasn't selected by Jan. 3, a special election would have to be held. Shaughnessy will be officially sworn sometime before that, but a date hasn't been set.
"I'm not going to table it. I refuse to have the township go through a special election and spend a ton of money," Davis countered.
Davis, who has served on the board since 1992, acknowledged Shaughnessy wasn't her first choice, alluding to potential spending.
"We will be on his heels at all times," she said.
Shepard, who seconded the motion to select Shaughnessy, said improving undeveloped township land will be a consideration going forward.
In another wrinkle Thursday, Grant made it known that longtime township attorney Larry Clark, who worked at no charge, had been relieved of duties. A replacement hasn't been chosen.