It was a twin spin for law enforcement authorities last week with felony indictments of two public officials, one in Waukegan, the other in North Chicago. The charges disclosed the same day were a rare occurrence in Lake County.
The indictments of Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly and North Chicago 2nd Ward Ald. Anthony Coleman come on the heels of the probationary sentence handed out a week before to former state Sen. Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills, who grossly under-represented his income. Despite the charges, both these Democrats are considered innocent until proven guilty.
Kilkelly, 69, is believed to be the first woman elected official indicted for official misconduct in Lake County. She is charged with misapplication of city funds for allegedly giving thousands of dollars in credits to Waukegan businesses that authorities say did not deserve them.
“For someone that has been giving back to the community for 45 years and in the political arena for 30 years trying to serve with integrity and ethics, this is a hard pill to swallow,” Kilkelly said in an e-mail. She was elected city clerk in 2017 and re-elected in 2021.
Along with being city clerk, she also is an elected commissioner of the Waukegan Park District, was a past trustee of Waukegan Township. In 1992, Gov. Jim Edgar appointed her to the Waukegan Port District where she served as treasurer of the agency which oversees the city’s harbor and airport.
The respected and popular city clerk hardly looks like someone who would be a grifter with her hand in the city’s till. Nowhere in the indictment is it alleged she received any compensation for issuing the credits to establishments renewing their liquor and gambling licenses for 2021, the height of the coronavirus contagion.
The City Council voted to distribute the one-time considerations to qualified businesses coping with the loss of customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kilkelly allegedly gave the credits to five liquor license holders, according to authorities.
Illinois State Police, which investigated the charges in the 15-count indictment, and lawyers for the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office say Kilkelly provided the credits to Waukegan businesses that were applying for liquor and gambling licenses that did not qualify for the financial support. The credits were to go only to businesses that were in “good standing.”
“Taxpayers lost a significant amount of revenue,” State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement. “The city clerk violated the public trust when she ignored her own recommendation and the final decision of the Waukegan City Council.”
Rinehart said the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Financial Crimes & Public Integrity Unit worked with State Police investigators on the case throughout 2023 and 2024, which apparently grew out of the probe of former city Ald. Roudell Kirkwood. He was indicted on felony charges related to his application for liquor and gambling licenses in 2022.
Even though there is that presumed innocence clause for those charged with allegedly committing crimes, Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor wasted no time in moving to suspend some duties from the clerk’s office. The City Council was to vote on the matter at Monday’s City Council session. Kilkelly’s first court date is April 2.
The City Council was to consider an ordinance suspending certain duties of the city clerk, although excluded were duties proscribed under Illinois state law. The move also reassigns city staff members currently working in the clerk’s office to report to the mayor’s office.
A statement from City Hall notes: “The pending indictment will undoubtedly impair and impede the conduct of the city clerk’s duties in a manner that is inconsistent with the best interests of Waukegan’s residents and businesses. To that end, the ordinance proposes that all duties beyond what is required by Illinois statutes be reassigned to other members of staff.” Kilkelly has not indicated whether she will quit the elected post, as the mayor has suggested she do.
Indeed, she was working in the clerk’s office last week after the indictments were announced, and was at a luncheon in Waukegan marking Women’s History Month. Seems like city officials can’t wait to get rid of the elected clerk, who has tangled with the mayor and whose record in public service until this complicated incident has been exemplary, her honesty and public trust unquestioned.
There must be something in the water at the nationally recognized North Chicago Water Treatment plant. That’s where the city’s Ald. Coleman allegedly got into trouble.
In a separate announcement of Kilkelly’s indictment, the State’s Attorney’s Office revealed charges of felony official misconduct and criminal damage to government property. Coleman is accused of damaging the surveillance video system at the facility in August 2023.
Coleman allegedly cut wires to a video camera in the plant and removed the camera, which was installed by order of the City Council. Maybe the alderman didn’t like that CCTV was being used for surveillance in the water plant and Big Brother was watching.
“Coleman gained access to the water plant as a public official and destroyed an appropriate and legal camera system,” Rinehart stated. “This defendant doesn’t get to overrule the City Council by destroying government property.”
Coleman has a court appearance on April 4.
The indictment of two elected officials in Lake County on the same day is infrequent. Until their cases become sorted out, “innocent until proven guilty” remains, along with felony accusations hanging over their heads.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
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