Skokie Trustee James Johnson’s proposal to reevaluate the village’s process for appointing its village attorneys saw support from fellow trustees under most conditions. However, the Skokie Caucus Party-controlled Board of Trustees found itself divided when it came to adding nonpartisan language.
“I do take issue in some ways with the nonpartisan process,” Trustee Alison Pure Slovin said at the May 15 village board meeting.
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Trustee Khem Khoeun, however, supported Johnson’s request to add a nonpartisan segment to the appointment process.
“I agree with having some language in regards to the fact that this is a nonpartisan position. Corporation Counsel is hired regardless of their political affiliation,” Khoeun said. “I think there is an assumption there are political hires (in Skokie) and that is not the case. I think we should be explicit about that and have that language included.”
Skokie’s Corporation Counsel Michael Lorge was elected as a Skokie Caucus Party candidate when he served on the Board of Trustees prior to joining Skokie’s legal team. Johnson previously accused Lorge and Assistant Corporation Counsel Jim McCarthy of trying to sway Johnson, the only non-Caucus Party candidate, to not run for election in December 2020 by offering to help him get appointed to a village commission instead. Skokie’s Ethics Commission dismissed Johnson’s complaint.
Johnson’s other allegation against Skokie’s legal team alleges McCarthy, who is listed on the Illinois State Board of Elections website as the Skokie Caucus Party’s chair, campaigned for elected officials on paid time as a village employee. The village’s ethics Commission is scheduled to hear this complaint on June 7.
The proposal comes after the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor found the village guilty of violating the Open Meetings Act for entering an executive session on Jan. 17 when the village initially discussed the appointment process. Since the discussion was about the appointment process itself and not the performance of a specific employee, the village was found in violation of prohibiting the public from observing its discussion.
The Public Access Counselor suggested the non-confidential portion be made public, according to previous Pioneer Press coverage. Mayor George Van Dusen previously said the Board of Trustees would vote on whether the village should release the audio from the closed session.
“This conceivably can establish a very serious precedent…I want to take some time, take a look at it, then I will make a recommendation to the Village Board,” Van Dusen said at the time.
At the May 15 Board of Trustees meeting, Johnson said he is bringing forth the attorney appointment process proposal to accomplish three goals: to increase trustee inclusivity, provide a more limited approach and encourage a nonpartisan attorney selection process.
Johnson proposed language in regards to hiring a village attorney that mirrors the village manager selection process, which is a majority vote of the Board of Trustees and the mayor.
Van Dusen said trustees have historically played a role in the attorney appointment process, saying trustees met with candidates in the past. When current Corporation Counsel Michael Lorge was appointed, Van Dusen said the decision was made in part due to the trustees’ wishes.
“It’s been the tradition of the village that each member of the Village Board would meet with the proposed candidate, discuss the job with them and then there would be a formal recommendation,” Van Dusen said. “That is not in the code, that is a tradition and we certainly can work on (including it).”
Trustees agreed with Johnson that the attorney process should be revised to ensure this tradition is formally required going forward. Fellow trustees said resumes and interviews should also be required in the selection process. All the trustees agreed the village’s legal department should be kept in-house.
The village will review the Board of Trustees’ discussion regarding the appointment process and bring forth an ordinance to revise the attorney appointment process. Van Dusen said it may take some time to craft the ordinance to ensure it is legally sound.