1. What constitutes incompatibility of public office?
An incompatibility of public office arises when either the Illinois State Constitution or a statute (the written law) specifically prohibits the occupant of one office from holding the other office, where the duties of either office are such that the holder of one office cannot, in every instance, properly and fully, faithfully discharge all the duties of the other office, or where one office is deemed to be superior to the other.
2. How can an incompatibility of public office be determined in cases where the two positions are not specifically prohibited by either the Constitution or statute?
An incompatibility of public office can be determined by examining whether the vested interests of one office directly or indirectly affect the vested interests of the other office. In such cases, the duties of one office will interfere with the performance of the duties of the other office. "Public offices are generally considered incompatible where such duties and functions are inherently inconsistent and repugnant, so that because of the contrariety and antagonism which would result from the attempt of one person to discharge faithfully, impartially, and efficiently the duties of both offices, considerations of public policy render it improper for an incumbent to retain both." People v.Claar,293 Ill. App. 3d 211, 216-217 (1997).
Incompatibility is to be determined on an individual basis by reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the two public offices in question. Examples of the applicable facts and circumstances in question are: 1)whether the two entities contract with each other; 2)whether one entity determines the pay of individuals in the other entity; 3)whether one entity is subordinate to the other entity; or 4)whether one entity takes an action that may not be in the best interests of the other entity.
3. What is the difference between a conflict of interest and a conflict of duties?
A conflict of interest is personal in nature and arises from the activities or interest of an individual outside of the public office held.
A conflict of duties arises out of the duties of the public offices themselves.
4. Does incompatibility of public office apply to elected offices, appointed offices or employment relationships?
Incompatibility of public office applies to elected offices and appointed offices, but not to employment relationships.
5. What indicates the difference between a "public office" and an "employment relationship"?
Several factors can be used to indicate if a position is a public office or an employment relationship. Some of these factors include: 1Whether the position was created by law; 2)whether the position requires an oath or a bond; 3)whether the duties of the position are prescribed by law rather than by contract or agreement; and 4)whether the nature of the duties of the position are determined without regard to the particular person who holds the position.
6. Who is responsible for the avoidance of holding two incompatible public offices?
According to Michael Luke of the Illinois Attorney General's Office, an individual in public office has a responsibility to not assume incompatible offices. Such an individual should resign from the first office upon assuming the second office.
7. What happens if an incompatible public office is accepted?
If the holder of one public office accepts a second public office that is incompatible, the very act of acceptance results a resignation of the first office. In such cases, the board may declare a vacancy of the first position and fill that vacancy. If this does not occur, the State of Illinois may bring suit to force the person out of the first position. If the State does not bring suit, a private individual with legal standing may bring a private suit. If no action is taken to remove the person from the first office, the lack of action essentially becomes a ratification of the person holding the two incompatible offices.
8. What can a private individual do in situations where a person simultaneously holds two incompatible public offices?
A private individual may ask the person in the incompatible public office to resign; a private individual may ask the first board to declare a vacancy; and a private individual may ask the Illinois Attorney General and the County State's Attorney to bring suit to force the person out of the first position.
9. If holding two public offices creates a conflict of duties, why isn't abstaining from conflicting votes (recusal) a sufficient remedy?
Recusal is not a sufficient remedy where two public offices have conflicting duties because public officials are elected to be the voice of the citizens and abstaining from a vote deprives the citizens of their voices. Also, public policy demands that an office holder must discharge his duties with the actuality of impartiality and undivided loyalty. Such conflicts of duty are public conflicts and cannot be cured by recusal. However, private conflicts of interests may be cured by recusal.
10. Must an actual conflict of duties occur before legal action may be brought against a person who attempts to hold two public offices that are incompatible?
An actual conflict is not required, only the possibility of an eventual conflict must occur before legal action may be brought against a person who attempts to hold two public offices that are incompatible.
11. How can the public find out whether or not certain public offices are incompatible?
The public can find out if certain public offices are incompatible by 1consulting an attorney; 2)by searching the Illinois State Constitution, Illinois compiled Statutes and Illinois case law for details on the specific offices; or 3)by asking the Attorney General whether or not an opinion has been reached on the compatibility of the specific offices.
12. In typical Park Forest Area communities, that is, those of several thousands in population, are there any public offices that are specifically allowed by law to be held simultaneously by the same individual?
The Public Officers Prohibited Activities Act has been amended with the following:
"Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit an elected municipal office from holding elected office in another unit of local government as long as there is no contractual relationship between the municipality and the other unit of local government."
This has been interpreted to mean that an individual may serve on a library board and a village board in the same community. However, there may still be other facts and circumstances that may render the two offices to be incompatible.
13. Why should I, as a Park Forest Area resident, care whether or not an individual is holding two incompatible public offices at the same time?
While this issue may seem insignificant, if an individual is holding two incompatible public offices at the same time, it can affect the average resident's life in several ways:
a. An individual holding two incompatible public offices will affect how your tax dollars are being spent. Such an individual will be making decisions on how tax dollars are spent for each of the offices he is serving in and these decisions may be in conflict with one another.
b. An individual holding two incompatible public offices may not be able to adequately represent the needs and desires of his constituency, you, if he cannot faithfully, impartially, and efficiently execute the duties of both offices. For example, if he must recuse himself from a particular vote because of the incompatibility, and this particular issue is of great importance to you, he is not adequately representing your interests as a constituent.
An individual holding two incompatible public offices may be required to make a decision in one office that will provide him a personal material benefit, such as a pay ioncrease, in the other office.
Livingston v. Ogilvie, 43 Ill. 2d 9 (1969)
The offices of representative and senator are not incompatible with membership in the constitutional convention unless made incompatible by some other provision under the constitution because although lucrative, these positions of public service do not rise to the dignity of offices.
In general, any prohibitions against holding public office, even two simultaneously, should be strictly interpreted.
Fitzsimmons v. Swailes, 101 Ill. 2d 458 (1984)
The offices of county board member and township assessor are incompatible because the office of township assessor is subordinate to the county board since the county board determined the salary and budget of the supervisor of assessments.
Myers v. Haas, 145 Ill. App. 183 (1st district, 1908)
The offices of state senator and municipal clerk are incompatible because the State Constitution specifically forbids a state senator from holding another office simultaneously, and the duties of each office are such that the holder of one cannot in every instance, fully and faithfully discharge all the duties of the other.
Barsanti v. Scarpelli, 371, Ill. App. 3d 226 (2d District, 2007) The offices of village trustee and township park district commissioner are incompatible. These offices are incompatible because the performance of the duties of one interfered with the performance of the duties of the other. This issue was demonstrated in this situation by the need for the elected official to abstain from any vote.
E&E Hauling v. Pollution Control Board, 116 Ill. App. 3d 586 (2d District, 1983) The incompatibility doctrine concerns limits on simultaneous office holding, not the validity of particular decisions made by those individuals holding more than one office.
Teros v. Verbeck, 155 Ill. App.3d 81 (3d District, 1987)
The offices of deputy county coroner and county board member are incompatible because the coroner's office was subordinate to the county board since the coroner's office's budget was determined by the county board.
People V. Claar , 293 Ill. App.3d 211, (3d District, 1997)
The offices of mayor and director of the Illinois Toll Highway Authority are compatible. The offices are not subordinate to each other and, even though it is conceivable that the two offices would interact, they typically would react very rarely, and, therefore, the offices had no inherent conflict. The court concluded that on these facts that the holder of these two offices could fully and faithfully discharge the duties of both offices.
People v. Brown, 356 Ill. App. 3d 1096 (3d District, 2005)
The offices of county park district board member and city alderman are incompatible. These positions are so inherently in conflict with one another that one individual should not be allowed to hold both offices because of the statutory ability of the city and the county park district to enter into contracts with each other.
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