Madison County Republicans, who hold a 15-14 majority in county government, say they went to great lengths to achieve bi-partisan support for a re-opening plan that was approved overwhelmingly 26-2 on Tuesday. They're pushing back on statements made by the county Democrat party chairman who called that plan "reckless."
“We didn’t need any Democrat votes to pass this resolution, but we went to great lengths to include Democrats every step of the way and keep politics out of this plan," said county board member Ray Wesley (R-Godfrey), who also serves as the county Republican party chairman.
Ahead of Tuesday's vote in favor of a four-phase plan beginning May 13 with re-opening of child care facilities, restaurants, bars, gyms and theaters at 25 percent occupancy, hair and nail salons by appointment and other recreational facilities and professional services, Madison County Democratic chair Randy Harris said the plan put forward by Republican county chairman Kurt Prenzler endangers small businesses that may not be insured and may also put business licenses at risk.
Harris also called the plan "political," intended to "draw attention away from the ongoing corruption and lawsuits by members of his administration." Harris's reference is to county administrator Doug Hulme and IT director Rob Dorman, whom the county board terminated on April 17, which was followed by a May 1 lawsuit those officials filed over their firing.
Wesley said the re-opening plan was not political.
"It was about helping struggling people in our county," Wesley said. "That’s why I find it highly disappointing that Mr. Harris would desperately try to make this about partisan politics."
Wesley said in a press release that the resolution for re-opening was completed by a bi-partisan committee of four Republicans and three Democrats, which had received advice from State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons, a Democrat and two of his assistant state’s attorneys.
Gibbons pointed out that the resolution only provides businesses with the opportunity to re-open if they choose. Re-opening is not required, and the resolution "doesn't have any effect of law."
County board member Tom McRae (R-Bethalto) noted that 11 Democrats voted for the resolution.
"Does (Harris) think his own Democrat board members were putting politics ahead of people’s livelihood and safety?” McRae said.
He also said the county board has had its fair share of partisan moments over the past several years, but that this "clearly was not one of those times."
Other Republican board members sounding off included David Michael (R-Highland).
“Chairman Prenzler had sent a very nice letter to the governor two weeks ago requesting that he allow our county to re-open with a safe and responsible plan and didn’t get a response," Michael said. "Our local Democrat legislators have been silent throughout this stay at home order until just hours before we were to approve our resolution. Their constituents were not being represented in Springfield, so our board stepped in to fill the leadership void and provide representation for our businesses and unemployed workers who are struggling under the governor’s extended stay at home order. And we did it in complete bi-partisan fashion the way government is supposed to work.”
Board member Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) said that a shutdown is not a long-term solution, and that other "very significant" and "life-threatening issues" are not getting attention that is needed.
“I'm happy the county has taken a stance we are not going to stand in the way of businesses opening safely," Harriss said. "I hope our local Democrat legislators will work with us in a bi-partisan fashion to protect businesses against punitive action by the governor's office."