Wheatland Township, Ill (ECWd) –
Statement of the Wheatland Township Board of Trustees
The Wheatland Township Board of Trustees has carefully considered the recent events involving Highway Commissioner Harry Benton (read this article) following his resignation from the Illinois House of Representatives.
As elected officials, we believe every person entrusted with public office must uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct. Public confidence is the foundation of effective government.
We recognize the seriousness of the circumstances that resulted in Highway Commissioner Benton’s resignation from the Illinois House of Representatives following an investigation conducted by the Legislative Inspector General. While the Board has not reviewed the confidential investigative report and therefore makes no independent findings regarding its contents, we cannot ignore the extraordinary circumstances that led to Highway Commissioner Benton’s resignation from the General Assembly.
The Office of Highway Commissioner is a separate elected office under Illinois law, and the Township Board has no legal authority to remove the Highway Commissioner from office. Nevertheless, we believe the events of the past several months have significantly undermined public confidence in Township government.
Accordingly, after careful consideration, the Wheatland Township Bord of Trustees respectfully calls upon Harry Benton to resign as Wheatland Township Highway Commissioner.
This request is made not as a judgment on facts that remain confidential, but in recognition that public service depends upon the confidence of the people we serve. We believe the residents of Wheatland Township deserve leadership that is free from questions that cannot presently be answered publicly.
The Board remains committed to ensuring that Township government continues to operate professionally, transparently, and without interruption for all residents.
Approved by the Wheatland Township Board of Trustees by majority vote at a duly noticed public meeting held on July 9, 2026.
