Clark’s Statement of Economic Interest –

IROQUOIS CO. (ECWd) –

What do you call it when public officials fail to comply with the obligations of the law?  Specifically the Disclosure Statement of Economic Interest!

Did you know the filing of that document you must sign and declare the information you provided has not only been examined by you, but is also to the best of your knowledge and belief a TRUE, CORRECT and COMPLETE statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act?

Did you know the penalty for willfully filing a false or incomplete statement shall be a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment in a penal institution other than a penitentiary not to exceed one year or both fine and imprisonment?

Why such stiff penalty for willfully filing a false or incomplete statement?  Because the whole purpose of this document is to ensure public bodies are aware of what interest people have and knowing that ensures those interest don’t become in conflict with the public job they hold!  As I reported before, Julie Clark did not file the required document for the FIPHD!

A recent corrections in the Times-Republic reflected Julie Clark filed this required statement, as it relates to her “other” public sector position, Maryville Zoning Board of Appeals.  We sent a FOIA to Madison County for a copy of that statement and it’s rather telling to see what it reflects!

Item number 7 on those forms “require” the person filling them out to list the name of ANY unit of Government that employed the person making the statement during the preceding calender year, other than the unit or units of government in relation to which the person is required to file.

So what did the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department employee, Julie Clark, who was authorized to do her job from home,  225 miles away report on her filling?

N/A – As in Not Applicable!

(front page, back page)

So did she willfully file a false or incomplete statement?

Can ANYONE make the argument she didn’t know she was suppose to report her other $51,000.00 plus government job on that form?  The information is clearly false, and she can’t claim she didn’t know it was false as she clearly is getting paid and building up her IMRF retirement account with an entirely different public body than the one she filed under. (proof of compensation)

Why not disclose it?

Possibilities, of which are all speculation:

• Over site?
• Working another job in Madison County during the same hours?
• Disclosure could lead to other questions?

Regardless of the reason, she did not disclose her other government employment, which was the FIPHD. 

We also know that while drawing more than $51,000.00 a year in 2012, she was able to do so working from her home office located in Maryville, Illinois which is in fact over 225 miles away.  Not a bad gig for a person that carries the title of Tobacco Coordinator, Director of Planning & Corporate Development, and Chief FOIA Officer – all for the FIPHD.

Is it any wonder the Chief FOIA Officer has refused to turn over time cards? 

One must wonder how you can perform the duties of all those jobs in a multi-county health department while working from home 225 miles away! Our request for mileage reimbursements might be quite telling!