Rep. Chad Hays accused of violating economic interest filing rules

CATLIN (Heartland Newsfeed) — Rep. Chad Hays (R-Catlin) should be prosecuted for filing falsified or incomplete information on his statement of economic interest form, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW). The economic interest forms are meant to facilitate transparency by making public any business and economic interests a public official has.

Kirk Allen from the ECW alleges that Hays, upon taking a position earlier this year with the Danville Sanitary District, failed to disclose that he was a state representative for the preceding year. “For a guy that claims to have examined the document and signed his name confirming knowledge of the potential imprisonment for filing a form that is not true, correct, and complete, tells us he has no business in public office,” Allen wrote on ECW’s Illinois Leaks website. Also suggested was that it is highly unlikely that Hays will face prosecution because state attorneys general tend to ignore these types of violations. “We believe Chad Hays has willfully filed a false or incomplete statement and should face prosecution for his actions,” Allen wrote. “As a law maker, he knows what is required and can’t claim ignorance as he has disclosed other interests on the form.” Hays was previously mayor of Catlin for two terms and chaired the Vermilion County Mayor’s Council and was one of the Republicans who broke from party lines and voted in favor of the new state budget and the tax hikes that come with it.