by:  Diane Benjamin

As reported in on March 17 in the Pantagraph, both Renner and Hanson want to add a bar owner to the liquor commission.

Unless they violate the law, they CAN”T:

(235 ILCS 5/3-6) (from Ch. 43, par. 102)

No commissioner, inspector or other employee, may, directly or indirectly, individually or as a member of a partnership, or as a shareholder of a corporation, have any interest whatsoever in the manufacture, sale or distribution of alcoholic liquor, nor receive any compensation or profit therefrom, nor have any interest whatsoever in the purchases or sales made by the persons authorized by this Act, or to purchase or to sell alcoholic liquor.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=1404&ChapterID=26

Local officials take an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.  Many of the elected now feel they can do whatever they want and the courts can decide if its constitutional.

The City of Bloomington has 3 Open Meetings Act Violations pending against them. The States Attorney’s Office has ruled all 3 deserve further investigation, they could have refused to investigate if they had no merit.   The City is involved in a lawsuit for denying a permit to a lady who wanted to start a business in Bloomington, and there is at least one other case I am gathering details on.

Does Bloomington deserve good government?  Of course it does, but voting for either Renner or Hanson isn’t going to achieve that goal.  The government games can only end if principled leadership and alderman are elected.