FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 24, 2013
Is Richard Lee able to run for Road Commissioner in Belvidere?
PRESS RELEASE: Is Richard Lee able to run for Road Commissioner in Belvidere?
There is quite a climax coming to the Republican primary vote on 02/26/2013 for Belvidere Township Supervisor and Road Commisioner. Les Reid challenges incumbent Patrick Murphy for supervisor and Kenneth McBee challenges incumbent Richard Lee. While the only question here is for the road commissioner and his actual residency. It has been found a lot of people in the inner circle of the incumbent have been aware of the question of residency. The residence in Rockford of the incumbent is 23 miles from his office.
A question will be asked on Monday for an opinion of the Boone County States Attorney Michelle Courrier. It will also be asked how others responsible for certifying petitions for the last three terms have not reviewed this or if so have allowed it to continue.
Ken McBee can be reached at 815-979-8593 or Les Reid's cell is 815-262-7461. We would welcome you inquiry regarding this issue.
Richard Lee is the incumbent Belvidere Township road commissioner running for re-election on Tuesday. An ad run by his opponent(lisiting his residential tax bills] placed in the Boone County Shopper Thursday 02/21/2013 shows an owner occupied exemption on his residence in Rockford. His own campaign advertising in the same Shopper states he lives at 141 1/2 E Fourth Street in Belvidere.
The Illinois Department of Revenue has the requirement for the homeowner occupancy credit: "Listed owner must have this address where an owner occupied credit is being given as their primary residence." If one looked up Richard Lee on Winnebago property tax rolls, they would find him listed as the homeowner receiving this credit for his home on 1652 Prairie Ave in Rockford. He claims a Belvidere address at 141 1/2 E Fourth street as his residence for voting and on his driver's license. He can't have it both ways. As further proof of his true living arrangements, his personal vehicles are also believed to be registered to his Rockford address. No personal vehicle is believed to be registered at the Belvidere residence.
He sold his Belvidere home in 2003 and has rented apartments to give the appearance of local residency in order to keep his job. The State of Illinois Board of Elections says in order to even be a candidate for a township official, he/she must live in the township.
It is well known (by his coworkers at the township office and inner circle of friends) that the commissioner spends most of his time on his Rockford west side farm with the occasional night in Belvidere, Has he misled the residents Belvidere in order to keep his job the last 10 years and save his pension? Or, did he claim and receive the Home Owner's exemption on his Rockford residence over the last decade to the tune of $20,000+ in tax credits? Were these tax credits his to receive or is he in fact a Belvidere resident?
