John Norton, Former Road Commissioner, drew unauthorized unemployment benefits from Township –

Wesley Township, Will County, IL. (ECWd) –

The former Wesley Township Road Commissioner (appointed to the vacancy in 2013 and never elected) thought it might be a good idea to reap (unlawful) unemployment benefits from his former (appointed to an elective) position when the electors threw him out of office during the 2017 election.

According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security paperwork, Norton received unemployment benefits from his work at Wesley Township, and according to Norton’s statements to a Judge, his benefits expired in January of 2018.

Illinois law specifically disqualifies former elective (which includes people appointed to elective positions) officials from receiving unemployment benefits. See pages 31, 32, and 78 of the IDES Unemployment Publication (here):

An individual’s service for a governmental entity is excluded if it falls within any of the following exceptions:

1. As an elected official; (Section 220)

Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act, Sec. 220. State or subdivisions, service performed for:

D.  The term “employment” shall not include service performed after December 31, 1977:

1.  In the employ of a governmental entity referred to in clause (B) of Section 211.1 if such service is performed in the exercise of duties

a.  As an elected official;

Former Township Supervisor JoAnn Quigley did protest one of his benefit quarters under protest code 12, which means the protest would have been explained on a separate piece of paper that we do not have. What her protested reasons stated are unknown at this time.

He should be forced to pay these ill-gotten gains back to the State of Illinois.

You can dowload the supporting documents at this link or view below.

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