Ela Twp. assessor resigns over appointment problem

Ela Township's assessor, John Schweda, who was recently appointed to the post, resigned Friday because of an irregularity with his appointment.

The Lake County state's attorney's office investigated Schweda's appointment this week on a complaint and determined he should have stepped down as trustee on the Ela Township board before becoming a candidate for the assessor's job. The township board appointed Schweda in absentia on Dec. 13.

"Elected officials need to resign before they start lobbying for a job," said Meg Marcouiller, chief deputy Lake County state's attorney for the civil division. Marcouiller said courts have said that the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act prevents the creation of relationships that carry in them the potential for abuse.

A violation of the statute is a criminal offense.

"In recent years, more than one municipal official has called the state's attorney's office to tell us that they were planning to apply for a job with the city/village they serve," Marcouiller said. "We tell officials who call us that they are required to resign their office before asking their board to give them a job that pays more than $4,000 a year."

The Ela Township assessor gets paid more than $40,000 a year.

Schweda said Friday neither he nor the township board was aware of this rule.

Once Schweda agreed to resign as assessor, the state's attorney's office agreed not to file criminal charges against him. The township board will go through the appointment process again for an assessor.

Schweda said he will reapply for the job.