A special meeting of the Kankakee City Council (Wednesday) had members voting 8-6 to deny a move to conduct an investigation into campaign donations for Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong. The mayor’s primary election opponent, Angela Shea, alleged violations of the city’s municipal ethics codes concerning political donations from businesses and individuals who have working contracts with the city.

The Daily-Journal reports a closed session discussion before the meeting began resulted in a legal determination that the city’s ordinance regarding municipal code doesn’t exist anymore, since the Illinois General Assembly rewrote the law back in 2003. Legal counsel said the city ordinance is ‘unconstitutional and outdated.’

The special meeting agenda was looking into the need for an independent investigation.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong was very outspoken about the allegations of wrongdoing, saying there was no such proof because wrong didn’t exist. The Mayor said her Democratic opponent made the allegation with the City Council’s Republican members supporting it – in attempts to get voters to pull ballots to defeat her. Wells-Armstrong said her opponent is believed to have worked with Alderman Chris Curtis, who is a Republican candidate for Mayor.

Kankakee voters go to the polls (Tuesday 2/23) for the Primary Election. Wells-Armstrong is challenged by Shea on the Democratic ticket. Republican candidates for Mayor are Curtis and J.J. Hollis. Winners advance to the April 6 Election.

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