Under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, members of the Springfield City Council and Mayor Misty Buscher are required to produce a document called “Statement of Economic Interests.” They are asked to reveal such things as major assets, sources of income and ties to lobbyists. Speaking recently on why disclosure of economic interests is so important, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, said, “Increasing transparency and accountability in government is not only the key to increasing public trust; it is the key to improving the government.”
All officials must list all investment assets such as stocks, bonds and investment real estate worth more than $10,000 they owned on Dec. 31, 2022. They are not required to list personal residences or vehicles. Ald. Chuck Redpath listed his ownership of a 50% interest in some hunting land in Scott County and Ald. Ralph Hanauer lists a Scott County family farm.
Mayor Buscher, Ald. Lakeisha Purchase and Ald. Hanauer are the only members of the group to list retirement funds worth more than $10,000. And Ald. Purchase is the only member of the city council to disclose ownership interest in investment real estate worth more than $10,000.
In addition to listing their assets, the mayor and city council members are also required to list income in excess of $7,500, apart from what they receive as salary for their elected positions. Ald. Redpath, Ald. Shawn Gregory, Ald. Roy Williams Jr., Ald. Larry Rockford, and Ald. Brad Carlson did not report any such outside income.
Mayor Buscher disclosed income from The Real Estate Group Inc., Nesix Inc., Nesix of Springfield Inc., Plaza Partners LLC, AJ’s Corner Inc., Cornerstone Title Group, Gamechangers of Illinois, Whine Guys Inc., OG47 LLC and MBTWO LLC. All of those companies are registered with the Illinois Secretary of State except for Gamechangers of Illinois and OG47 LLC.
The Statement of Economic Interests does not ask for, nor did any of the candidates disclose, the line of business their income sources pursue. Nor does it require candidates to disclose the amount they receive, not even within a broad range of values. However, without that information the names of the corporations and LLCs doesn’t provide much useful data. Illinois Times reached out to Mayor Buscher’s office and to the registered agents for the Nesix companies as well as Plaza Partners, Whine Guys and MBTWO and asked what those companies do, but none of them had commented by press time.
Ald. Purchase receives income from real estate that she owns. Ald. Jennifer Notariano is paid by the State of Illinois Capital Development Board. Ald. Erin Conley is a full-time employee with the State of Illinois. Ald. Jim Donelan works for Township Officials of Illinois Risk Management Association, and Ald. Hanauer receives income from an investment account and from the family farm in Scott County.
All 11 respondents affirmed that they did not maintain an economic relationship with a lobbyist, and none of them reported a family member as a lobbyist.
All of the Statements of Economic Interest can be found on the Sangamon County Clerk’s website by searching for “Vital Records” then clicking on the “View Statements of Economic Interest” button at the bottom of the page.
Don Howard is an intern at Illinois Times while completing his master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting at the University of Illinois Springfield. He can be reached at dhoward@illinoistimes.com or 336.455.6966.
This article appears in Grillin’ and Chillin’ 2023.
