Spirited County Board Committee Meeting Disappoints Democrats

The Effingham County Legislative Committee of the Whole voted for Mary Behl to serve as the interim Effingham County Treasurer Monday against the wishes of the Democratic Party.

With the retirement of Democratic County Treasurer Steve Dasenbrock, a Democrat must be replaced by a Democrat. The Democratic Party selected Bill Passalacqua to serve as the interim treasurer. Passalacqua is running in the general election against Republican Paula Miller which will be decided in November.

Mary Behl, the chief deputy treasurer, was recomended by Dasenbrock to serve as the interim treasurer until the November election. The issue is that Behl, a life long Democrat, voted Republican in the primary election to support Paula Miller. Retired Circuit Judge James Harvey informed the committee that because Behl pulled a Republican ballot in the primary, she aligned herself with that party according to law and tradition.

Effingham County Clerk Kerry Hirtzel reported that Behl would be a Democrat in the opinion of the Illinois State Board of Elections. 

Passalacqua spoke to the board prior to the vote and said that he would be up to speed quickly, however the committee voted six to two, to put Behl's appointment on the agenda for the full board at the next county board meeting citing her experience working in the treasurers office for 18 years.