Jim Dey: Citing biased language, county auditor wants referendum on abolishing his office off ballot

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After months of political attacks from county board members trying to eliminate his office, Champaign County Auditor George Danos has struck back.

Danos on Monday filed a legal challenge to a proposed referendum to abolish the auditor’s office by characterizing the wording as unlawfully biased and inaccurate. He’s asking a three-member county election commission to agree and strike the referendum from the ballot.

If the issue is not resolved by the commission, Danos’ lawyer, Ruth Wyman, said she will appeal to the Champaign County Circuit Court. The issue must be addressed quickly because the election is drawing near and ballots must be printed.

Wyman said she expects to learn by noon Wednesday when the election commission will meet. Her filing alleges the referendum’s language violates the Illinois Constitution’s “free and equal clause.”

The constitution states “all elections shall be free and equal.” But Wyman argues the proposed referendum is “not fair and neutral” because “it seeks to coerce voters to vote for the referendum by claiming that eliminating the office of Champaign County Auditor will be a cost savings of approximately $150,000.”

Danos’ objection states the cost-savings estimate is “not true.”

County Executive Steve Summers said he has “not seen anything from Mr. Danos’ attorney, and therefore have no comment at this time.”

The referendum asks voters the following question:

“Shall the elected office of the Champaign County Auditor be eliminated, effective Dec. 1, 2024, as the county utilizes the statutorily required external auditor and this will be a cost savings of approximately $150,000?”

The objection was filed with County Clerk and Recorder Aaron Ammons’ office. He is expected to forward the issue to the election commission. That body is made up of three countywide officials, two of whom are expected to be Ammons and State’s Attorney Julia Rietz.

In July, Rietz told The New-Gazette that her office had urged county officials to modify the disputed referendum language but was ignored.

Ironically, McLean County voters are also set to decide in November if they wish to eliminate the auditor’s office. That county’s question asks, “Shall McLean County eliminate the elected office of auditor?”

In choosing that language, county board members there rejected proposed language that promised “great cost savings to the county” and noted that McLean County “already contracts with an external auditor as required by law.”

A member of that county board persuaded his fellow members to embrace the simpler language because “the referendum question is not supposed to convince a voter to vote a certain way. It’s asking a question.”

Just 15 Illinois counties retain an independent elected auditor. But the issue in Champaign County extends well beyond the policy question.

Danos, a Democrat, has been caught up in a months-long battle with, mostly, his fellow Democrats on the county board. They tried twice to put the future of his office up for a vote, succeeding the second time.

They also persuaded the 22-member board to censure Danos for behavior unbecoming of a public official.

His critics, including board members Stephanie Fortado and Emily Rodriguez, have insisted their unhappiness with Danos is based solely on his conduct. Danos contends he started having trouble when he decided to oppose a proposed quarter-cent sales-tax increase that is also on the November ballot.

Danos contends that county revenues are and will remain strong, making the tax hike unnecessary. His board critics insist additional funds are necessary.

Danos, a veteran incumbent, obviously opposes the elimination of his office. He argues that an elected, independent watchdog is necessary to look out for taxpayers.

Under the county’s plan, a director of finance would replace the county auditor and work under the county executive.