Kankakee Times

Nita Dubble violated the rules barring government employees from campaigning in favor of the public safety tax referendum recently, a citizens oversight group attests.

Dubble, the Iroquois County Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) 911 director, advocated 'yes' votes on the referendum when she attended public meetings, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW).

"It’s hard enough to fight against our ever rising taxes in Illinois but where does a person turn to when their own tax dollars are actually being used in support of seeking your vote for even more taxes?" the ECW posted on its Illinois Leaks website. 

The ECW points out that the State Officials and Employment Act bars government employees from intentionally performing prohibited political activity during any compensated time. Prohibited political activity includes campaigning for any elective office or for or against any referendum question.

“Dubble advised that she will be attending fire meetings to promote the public safety tax," the ETSB meeting minutes of Sept. 22, 2016, read. 

Further, in the “Additional Comments” section of her performance review, dated Dec. 20, 2016, the reviewer notes that Dubble “successfully championed the public safety tax referendum."

It is unclear from the record whether Dubble promoted the public safety tax during work time.