Election

Kane County Board candidate Davoust withstands residency challenge

State’s Attorney determines insufficient evidence to support opponent Hodge’s claim

Election 2024

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser is not supporting Mark Davoust’s opponent’s allegation that the incumbent Republican does not live in Kane County and said he can remain on the Kane County Board and on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Democrat Thomas Hodge alleged last month that Davoust is not a legal resident of Illinois because he is getting a $50,000 homestead exemption at a Florida property and not at the St. Charles Township home on Crane Road.

Hodge is challenging Davoust to serve the county’s 15th District.

Hodge sent Mosser a letter asking her to file a quo warranto complaint against Davoust over the residency issue.

Kane County Board, District 14 candidate Tom Hodge

“I am declining to file the requested quo warranto action against Mr. Davoust as I did not find sufficient evidence to support the allegation that Mr. Davoust is not a resident,” Mosser said in a text message.

According to state law, quo warranto is used to resolve a dispute over whether someone has the legal right to hold the public office that he or she occupies.

Davoust said his wife is retired and filed the paperwork at their Florida vacation home for the homestead. Davoust said he withdrew the Kane County exemption because he did not want any impropriety with having two homestead exemptions.

Davoust said he lives in Kane County, his car is registered here, his businesses is here and he volunteers at his grandchildren’s golf games in Illinois.

“It’s a political thing,” Davoust said of Hodge’s objection. ”Denying his quo warranto indicates I am qualified. I am a resident.”

Hodge disagreed with Mosser’s decision not to pursue a complaint against Davoust.

“My position is that there is no state in the union that is going to give anyone a homestead exemption unless they are a permanent resident,” Hodge said. “I don’t know what document she needs to prove that, but there is nowhere I’ve ever seen that you get a homestead exemption. … It is black and white if you ask me. He’s not a resident and voters will decide.”