03/16/2026
Shelby County Republican Central Committee Statement on Misuse of Office and Election Interference
The Shelby County Republican Central Committee is alarmed by the recent written endorsement of a political candidate released on official county letterhead by Shelby County Board Chairman Tad Mayhall. Public office and public resources should never be used to influence the outcome of an election.
Under Illinois law, no public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or proposition, and public resources may not be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization. Violations of this statute constitute election interference and carry criminal penalties, including misdemeanor charges.
Using official county stationery to promote a candidate in a partisan primary appears to be a misuse of office and a misuse of public funds and undermines the integrity of our elections. The Shelby County Republican Central Committee has worked to uphold the laws of the land and expects the same level of respect for legal and ethical standards from all public officials.
We call on Chairman Mayhall to retract his statement immediately and reaffirm that official county resources will not be used for electioneering. We also call on candidate Don Debolt to publicly denounce this use of public office and public funds for campaign purposes, and to make clear that he does not condone such actions.
The Republican Party of Shelby County remains committed to fair elections, accountability, and respect for the rule of law especially those who are candidates of or elected as Republicans.
Shelby County Republican Central Committee
