Ill. A.G. asked to rule on Nygren eligibility

The Illinois Attorney General has been asked to rule on the eligibility of Keith Nygren to run for re-election as sheriff of McHenry County.

The County Clerk ducked, and reportedly an attorney with the Illinois State Board of Elections felt similarly inclined. They believe that an objection to a candidate's filing must be made within five business days after the end of the filing period. The filing period for the general election ended November 2, 2009, and the five-day contest period ended November 9.

However, information about the Nygrens' illegally claiming homestead exemption in both Florida and Illinois did not surface until the spring of 2010, well after November 9. Keith Nygren, incumbent sheriff, apparently is trying to stand on the fact that only his wife signed the application for Florida homestead exemption, and therefore his own residency did not change.

When Keith's wife changed her residency and then filed for the homestead exemption, that effectively changed Keith's residency, too. He enjoyed the economic benefit of the Florida homestead exemption (and the Illinois homestead exemption on their Hebron, Ill. home, too) until this spring, when some wise person blew the whistle. (I confess; I didn't do it.)

And then Keith hotfooted it over to Donna Mayberry's office, then the McHenry County Assessor, where a quick letter went to the Assessor in Florida, giving up the Hebron homestead exemption.

Well, if you give up your Hebron homestead exemption, then you must not "reside" here. You might "live" here some of the time (and more of the time since the questions have surfaced about just how much time you really do spend in Wisconsin and in Florida), but you no longer "reside" here, and that is what is required to be eligible to run for Sheriff.

This ought to knock the race down to two candidates - Mike Mahon and me. Won't it be interesting when Nygren is ruled ineligible to run for re-election?