SYCAMORE – The father-in-law of the Democrat running against sitting DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder Doug Johnson claims Johnson unethically handed out campaign materials while on the clock this summer.
Steve Walt, father-in-law of Democratic candidate Trent Taylor and a DeKalb County Board member from 2006 to 2010, announced that special prosecutor Charles Colburn has been appointed to investigate claims Johnson, a Republican, handed out campaign materials July 17 at the Senior Health Fair, which was hosted by State Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley, among others.
When reached for comment Thursday, Johnson said he would issue a written statement within a few hours, but he did not issue a statement or respond to a follow-up phone call.
Under DeKalb County Government’s Ethics Policy, no officer or employee can engage in any political activity during any compensated time, which includes any time when the officer is at a location under the control of the employer and any other time when the officer or employee is executing his or her official duties, regardless of location.
Walt said a relative of his, who is not Taylor, attended the health fair and noticed Johnson and employee Lynne Kunde handing out materials such as hand fans and bags. Walt asked the relative to take pictures of the incident. The picture shows an elderly woman accepting a red hand fan with a Republican elephant logo and the wording: “Doug Johnson, DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder.”
That same day, Walt sent the picture to DeKalb County State’s Attorney Richard Schmack to look into it. Because Schmack represents Johnson as an ethics adviser, Schmack referred the allegation to the State Appellate Prosecutor’s Office.
“We had a police agency look at it to see if it was a real photograph of something that occurred,” Schmack said. “We did that before we referred it. The picture depicts what really happened.”
Walt said he understands how some might think he only took action because his son-in-law is running against Johnson. That’s why he said he went through the proper channels before publicizing it.
“When you’re a public official, you have to watch out for people who are not fans of you,” Walt said. “I could have told my son-in-law to put it on a post card and mail it out. That’s why I went through the proper channels.”
Since it is still an open investigation, Colburn said he could not comment on how the claim will proceed in the legal system or what timeline there could be in the allegation being resolved.
Taylor said he was unaware of the allegations until Thursday. He called Johnson’s alleged actions “an insult to the taxpayers of DeKalb County.”
“I’ve spent six months knocking on thousands of doors,” Taylor said. “It’s unfortunate. I’m glad voters have the choice this November.”