Mayor Bloemker Resigns Position with Department of Corrections

Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker has resigned his position with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Bloemker said the resignation was effective this week, and said he will be looking for a position locally.

(MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER)

Bloemker in a written statement said, "The intense pace and heavy travel demands involved with being the CEO of Illinois Correctional Industries put too much stress on me as a father of three, a husband, and a mayor. I have therefore resigned from my position with the Illinois Department of Corrections."

In his written statement, the mayor made reference to an internal investigation being conducted by the Department of Corrections. He wrote, "My understanding is this is relative to time-keeping policies. As the CEO of Illinois Correctional Industries, I assumed I had full autonomy over my schedule."

Our newsroom has attempted on more than one occasion to contact the IDOC regarding the investigation, but Corrections officials have not responded.

The combination of traveling statewide to oversee the work of inmates in the prison system and his duties as mayor has resulted in overlaps in duties for Bloemker. He said, "In the past six months, I don't think I could work any harder for the people of Illinois or the people of Effingham in an overall effort to make Illinois a better place to live and work."

Bloemker said, "I want to thank Governor Bruce Rauner and IDOC Director John Baldwin for the great opportunity. I found the work fascinating and important."