The Vermilion County Board is expected to vote Tuesday (July 9, 2024) on whether to place an advisory referendum on the November ballot. It would ask voters whether the Vermilion County Board should correspond with Boards of other counties in Illinois – except Cook County – about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state, and seek admission to the Union as such, subject to the approval of the people.
County Board member Jerry Hawker says it will give downstate Illinois an opportunity to show their frustration with Cook County – even if it’s just advisory. “Twenty-eight counties have put this on the ballot and to my knowledge none of them that have been put on (the ballot) since 2020 have failed,” said Hawker.
“And I’ll be honest with you”, added Hawker. “The possibility of a new state happening is very difficult. The State legislature would have to pass it. A statewide referendum would have to be passed, and the U.S. Congress would have to pass it. So, this is more of a statement. Of course anything is possible, but it’s well down the road.”
Board members who joined Hawker in asking that the matter be placed on Tuesday’s agenda are Pastor Phil Jackson, Tara Autor, Christine LaMar, and Kevin Bodine. The Board meets at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Joseph G. Cannon Building at 201 North Vermilion Street in Danville.
