Pekin Mayor Mayor Burress says she “cannot speak” to why her name was mentioned during a plea hearing Wednesday in Tazewell County Court.
The hearing, which resulted in fines and community service for two former Tazewell County Board candidates, was largely uneventful. Former District 2 candidate Vivian Hagaman and former board chairman candidate Roy Paget both pleaded guilty to failure to follow election code.
Specifically, Illinois Assistant Attorney General Haley Bookhout said the state believed they could prove Paget and Hanauer had admitted signature petitions with false information during the December 2023 primary filing period.
A reporter’s review of Paget’s and Hagaman’s petitions shows two pages in each of the candidate's packets have the same signatures in the same order.
But before accepting the guilty plea, Paget, against the advice of Attorney Rob Hananuer, claimed that Burress was a key witness in the case and had not been interviewed. He described Burress’ testimony as “suppressed,” though he did not specify who suppressed it or how.
“I believe in truth and I believe you, your honor, believe in truth,” Paget said to Judge Stephen Kouri.
Paget went on to claim he believed Burress’ testimony would lead to him being found not guilty in a trial. He did ultimately accept the guilty plea and waive his right to a trial. Paget has 30 days after submitting the plea to appeal it.
As of Friday morning, Paget had not responded to multiple requests for comment from WCBU. Paget's attorney, Rob Hanauer, also didn't return a request for additional comment.
Burress addressed the issue in a written response to a series of questions from WCBU.
“No law enforcement agency involved in this investigation ever contacted me,” said Burress in the statement. “I cannot speak to the legal issues raised at Roy’s trial because I have not been involved in any capacity in this case and so I cannot speak to why my name was invoked.”
Elsewhere, Burress said she helped circulate petitions after Paget, a personal friend, asked for assistance in getting signatures. She says this is a regular duty as an elected Tazewell County Republican precinct committeeman.
“The petitions I turned in were petitions I personally collected, and they were valid petitions,” Burress said.
The entire statement from Burress is below:
"I am an elected Republican Precinct Committeeman in Tazewell County. One of the duties of Precinct Committeemen is to circulate petitions for Republican candidates. Roy Paget is a personal friend who has supported me and circulated petitions for me in past elections and so when he asked me to help him collect petitions, I obliged.
The petitions I turned in were petitions I personally collected, and they were valid petitions. They were properly notarized and properly signed by valid voters. I was not involved in his campaign other than to spend a little time circulating petitions. I have no idea how many other people were involved in helping him get on the ballot. I was asked to help with petitions and that is what I did.
No law enforcement agency involved in this investigation ever contacted me. I cannot speak to the legal issues raised at Roy’s trial because I have not been involved in any capacity in this case and so I cannot speak to why my name was invoked. My only role in all of this was to collect legal petitions for a personal friend to get on the ballot – something I have done for many different candidates."
