COLUMBIA, Ill. (KMOX) - When voters in a Metro East community elect a new mayor tomorrow, they could be setting up an interesting and unique situation where the county coroner and their mayor are the same person.
Bob Hill says if he is elected mayor of Columbia, Ill., he will continue serving as Monroe County Coroner, his opponent, current Columbia City Clerk Wes Hoeffken believes that would create a conflict.
For example, in cases that involve the city's police department.
"If he's dealing with the (police) chief is he dealing with him as the mayor, his superior? Or as the coroner, an equal law enforcement official? So for me, the lines get real blurred," Hoeffken says.
Hoeffken says there is also conflict because the city of Columbia has a lot of contracts with Monore County.
In an email to KMOX News, Hill says the coroner's office and city have no dealings whatsoever: No contracts, no exchange of funds, "These entities could not be more separate."
While Hoeffken says there is legal precedent supporting his position, Hill says he has found no such conflict in statute or case law, even after it was researched with the Illinois Attorney General's office.
A new mayor will be voted on in Tuesday's election.
© 2020 KMOX (Entercom). All rights reserved