Separation Referendum is Discussed

by Randy Pierce

MADISON COUNTY —  Questions were asked, thoughts were shared, ideas advanced and suggestions made, all during the course of a meeting of the Madison County Board Government Relations Committee held earlier this month when the subject of a statewide “separation” referendum came up on the agenda.

At issue is whether or not the Madison County Board should present to the voters for consideration a non-binding referendum calling for a separation from Cook County in northeastern Illinois by the remainder of the state.

This meeting chaired by county board member Stacey Pace of Troy included statements made under the public comment portion of the session that saw two residents speak regarding their opposing views.

In anticipation of what was to come forth, Pace laid down some ground rules before the meeting moved ahead, noting that, as chair, she had the authority to recognize those who wished to talk when they raised a hand for this purpose, adding, “When you speak out of turn, we have chaos.”

First, David Stopher, a Troy resident who has addressed the separation referendum to the full board/this committee four times previously, advocating, as he did again on Jan. 2, for the question to be put on the ballot next November, came forward.

After explaining that he had been asked many questions on this topic since last addressing this group of elected officials, Stopher said a delegate or delegation would be appointed, if the referendum were to pass, to meet with representatives from other counties for the purpose of speaking for or against the actual separation concept.

“As I told the whole board before,” Stopher continued, “53% of our (state) legislature comes from Chicago. That should be pretty telling about the reason why (the separation is being pursued.)”

Offering to answer any questions posed to him about the separation, Stopher shared his telephone number, (618) 958-5314, and noted that there is a state representative from Chicago who is actually in favor of it.

Stopher’s prior times of speaking about all of this in a similar setting cited the state’s high tax rates, the cost of education and for other services, which he feels are being driven upward because of the heavy population and other conditions in the northeast corner of Illinois, plus the overall economic status as it currently exists as being factors in his believing the separation is worth pursuing.

Next during the public comments portion of the same meeting was Charlie Hoffman of Glen Carbon who last February, by way of an e-mail to county board member Bill Stoutenborough of Alton, had contested the accuracy of some figures Stopher had presented to the county board in an apparent attempt to stump for the separation vote.

A precinct committeeman, Hoffman told those present his wife was a retired college professor who did some research into what Stopher had brought forward earlier in 2023. Hoffman added that he felt a study by the Southern Illinois University Carbondale institute connected with the late United States congressman from Makanda, Paul Simon, revealed that tax funds generated by the Chicago area actually provide benefit to the rest of the state.

“We would need a tax increase,” Hoffman contended, were it not for the state revenue produced by Chicago and Cook County.

Referencing the need for support from a specific number of registered voters to put the separation referendum on the ballot or having the county board approve a resolution for doing so, Hoffman commented, “David hasn’t got the necessary signatures on the petitions. That’s why he needs to use you… In a democracy, David has the right to try to get his referendum on the ballot. What’s not right is asking you to commit to circumventing the process.”

“You represent 264,000 Madison County residents,” Hoffman told the board members present. “David’s Facebook group has 1300. You should not let less than half of one percent of the population drive this decision… David’s group has not done their due diligence and they’re asking you to endorse, support this resolution to shortcut the system.”

Hoffman went on to call attention to the time of the last state being added to the union occurring in 1959 and ongoing difficulties since then for getting the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico to become states, remarking, “Do you honestly believe we could establish a downstate Illinois? Do you want your name and the Madison County Board’s name associated with tilting at windmills, fighting a losing battle, creating shortcuts, not being fiscally responsible for the county?… Concentrate on creating successes for the county. There’s no incentive for you to endorse this referendum. I recommend that you set this aside and let this play out among the citizens.”