Mchenry County Board Member Files Ethics, Fraud Complaint Against Skillicorn

A McHenry County board member filed an ethics violation and fraud complaint on Tuesday against her primary opponent, Rep. Allen Skillicorn, which questioned the lawmaker's whereabouts during a series of House votes in June. Board member Carolyn Schofield alleges in her complaint to the Illinois Legislative Inspector General that Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, was in Harvard – which is approximately 220 miles away from the Illinois Capitol – during the Illinois House's last spring session of the year on June 1. Schofield said in speaking with past and present lawmakers that it is not uncommon for a legislator to have someone else work their voting switch if they have to temporarily step away from the House floor. However, she said it is unheard of for that to happen when a lawmaker is outside the Statehouse, let alone Springfield. "We're in a climate where ethics is a top priority for many officials," Schofield said.