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Resident criticizes Lee County appointment process and urges written procedure and term limits
Summary
Amy Palmer, a District 2 nominee who was not appointed, told the board the appointment process lacked transparency and pressed for a written procedure and term limits to prevent perceived partisan advantage.
Amy Palmer of Sublette used the meeting's public comment period to criticize the county's process for appointing a board member in District 2, saying she and other Democratic nominees were not contacted after expressing interest and that the seat had been filled without timely notification.
Palmer said she was contacted in early December by an intermediary and agreed to be nominated, then waited through the holidays with no follow-up. She said she emailed the chair on Jan. 7 with a résumé and endorsements from two District 2 mayors and other community references; three days later she was told the position had already been filled and said the appointment date shown to her was Dec. 19.
Palmer asked whether the selection meeting had complied with the Illinois Open Meetings Act and whether the process had been politicized. She said nominees who lack incumbent name recognition need appointment opportunities to build recognition before running for office and asked the board to adopt a written procedure for appointments and to consider term limits for board members.
Palmer said she has notified those who endorsed her about how the process was handled and offered to help draft a written appointment procedure if the chair or board wished her assistance.
The board chair invited Palmer to stay after the meeting to discuss details.
