Scherer-Backed Bill Empowers Springfield Residents to Elect Township Leaders

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, is empowering Springfield residents to choose Capital Township leaders through a measure that makes simple yet critical changes to an out- of-date section of state law that disenfranchises area residents in a unique manner.

“Springfield is the heart of Illinois – the Land of Lincoln, where equality and fairness should reign supreme yet its residents have not enjoyed the rights of others due to an archaic section of state law that gives the right to select township leaders to people who don’t even live there,” said Scherer. “This change will empower residents to have more control over their taxpayer-funded resources to address the issues that affect Springfieldians the most.”

Scherer supported the passage of Senate Bill 634, which deletes the section of state law that dampens Springfield residents’ power to elect Capital Township officers such as supervisor, clerk and collector. Capital Township shares its boundaries with the City of Springfield but current state law, which was established in the late 1870s, requires these roles to be filled by the Sangamon County Board’s Clerk and Treasurer. The current arrangement robs township residents of their ability to fill these critical roles through elections, which other township residents have throughout the state.

The bill is identical to Scherer’s Senate Bill 826 from the 102nd General Assembly. Scherer hopes that these changes will give Springfield residents more freedom to use their taxpayer-funded resources to better address Springfield’s challenges and uplift its working families.

“When this carve-out for Capital Township was drafted, the area looked a lot less urban and deference to the County Board was a practical measure to prevent government redundancy,” said Scherer. “That era is long gone, and it’s time to empower Springfield’s residents with the same rights that other Illinoisans have to elect township leadership that truly reflects their values.”