Electioneering in Morgan County

We were sent a video on September 9th of what appears to be the Gray Noll for State’s Attorney campaign engaged in prohibited political activity at the JHS football game in what looks to be a violation of Illinois election laws. This is the video:

This was a coordinated event that was advertised on the candidate’s campaign Facebook page.

Jacksonville School District Superintendent Steve Ptacek took to Facebook at 11:59pm that same night to address the situation:

I need to apologize for the political shirts that were worn at the football game tonight by the concession workers. I have received several communications voicing concerns about the political statement.

The school district is paid for by all tax payers and cannot take a political stance. This issue is not about support for either candidate, but about being a politically free entity.

The concession stand is run by the Crimson Pride group and made that choice without discussing the issue with JSD117.

Crimson Pride is a football booster organization that has done a tremendous job of helping our program, but we will have to meet to clearly define that they must operate as a non-political organization. We will be reinforcing that requirement with all organizations associated with the school district.

It was incredibly refreshing for the head of a public body to acknowledge what happened, apologize for it and present a plan for correcting the situation going forward.

Ptacek added more the following day:

First, I can’t thank the members of the Crimson Pride enough for their tireless efforts in helping our kids and our community. Please don’t judge the members that volunteer their time for our kids. Second, upon further reflection I understand that the group members might not have understood certain legal issues and the overall position of the school district to not get involved in party politics. Many don’t grasp that all organizations working under the school’s “umbrella” fall under the district’s limitations in these matters. So, I apologize for not clearly defining this before hand. The district will work with all of our wonderful support organizations to help them understand this issue better. Please keep in mind that the workers were primarily there to raise money to support our kids.

I’m going to break this down a little bit, emphasis mine.

Second, upon further reflection I understand that the group members might not have understood certain legal issues and the overall position of the school district to not get involved in party politics.

Crimson Pride organizers and their regular volunteers most likely don’t understand the “legal issues” involved here but the county’s top prosecutor should. If, for some reason, he doesn’t then his number two should. If an elected lawyer isn’t expected to know State Board of Elections rules, hopefully he knows the state’s constitution. Something I’m pretty sure he’s sworn to uphold.

Illinois State Constitution Article VIII, Section 1a states the following:

Public funds, property or credit shall be used only
for public purposes.

I’m no lawyer but holding a campaign event on public property doesn’t seem like a “public purpose.”