(The Center Square) – A Central Illinois elected county auditor has been asked to step down after a series of finance issues occurred under her leadership in recent years.
Four-term elected McLean County Auditor Michelle Anderson, a Republican, is being asked to step down from her elected office by her own party.
Political and government leaders in the county have said Anderson’s 18 years in the role has led to unnecessary risk and costs to county taxpayers, especially in recent years.
Connie Beard, chairman of the McLean County Republicans, told The Center Square the county party’s committee voted unanimously after considering issues for months, like late payments, leading to unnecessary fees for the county.
“She was not being a good representative of the Republican Party and the principles by which we expect our elected officials to function,” Beard said. “Anytime our elected representatives fail to perform in their duties, that result in either added expense or that result in failure to manage funds properly, the taxpayer is the one that pays for it.”
Beard said the Democrat-led county board hasn’t acted on Anderson’s questionable work.
“Our county board currently has a Democrat majority and they have failed in these last couple of years when some of these things have really come to light to act on applying pressure to our county auditor,” Beard said.
Patrick Cortesi, chairman of the McLean County Democrats, said in a statement that Democrats on the County Board have taken issue with Anderson’s work for years, and they wanted to rid the county of Anderson’s position in its current form.
“In 2024, Democrats worked across the aisle to put a referendum before voters to eliminate the position altogether – and the McLean County Republican Party actively opposed it,” Cortesi said. “We welcome their newfound interest in accountability, but they don’t get to rewrite history. And if McLean County Republicans are really serious about accountability, perhaps they should look at the County Clerk.”
Cortesi said County Clerk Kathy Michael had overspent her allocated budget over multiple years. The Clerk’s office overspent by about $95,000 in 2023, $386,000 in 2024, and $400,000 in 2025, and agreed to work more closely with the board when in need of additional funds.
Beard said the auditor could resign at her own volition, or choose to serve the two-year remainder of her term.
“If Anderson would resign, the county chairman [Elizabeth Johnston] would need to appoint a replacement and that would need to be a Republican, since Ms. Anderson was an elected Republican,” Beard said. “We already have a great candidate to promote and to submit as a good appointment replacement.”
Anderson didn’t respond to The Center Square’s request for comment Tuesday.
Beard also noted some want the county to strip Anderson of her required $5,000 surety bond, which she would have to repay in order to continue in office.
