Hi, my name is Kirsten Krueger and two years ago, I was in a car accident. I was stopped at a stop sign when the driver behind me slammed into my car. Due to my injuries, I had to spend a few days in the hospital and I was unable to work for two months. My medical care was expensive and without being able to work, I couldn't pay my bills. The car accident was stressful enough and then I had to worry about how I would pay my bills. After speaking with a car accident lawyer, it wasn't long before I was compensated for my medical bills and lost wages from work. I'm writing this blog to help others who have been a car accident and haven't received any compensation. As you read my posts, you'll learn how an attorney can help you if you're in a vehicle accident.
If you live or work in Naperville, Illinois and plan to run for public office, you may expect to be subject to some restrictions during your campaign. For example, if you live outside the city limits, you may need to relocate to become eligible for service. However, there is one unique restriction that may come as a surprise -- a restriction on your ability to hold public office in Naperville while holding a liquor license or having any other financial interest in the sale of alcoholic beverages. Read on to learn more about this law, recent efforts to change it, and what you can do if you don't want to give up either your liquor license or your dream of public office.
What is the rationale for Naperville's law prohibiting public officials from holding liquor licenses?
This law originated around 10 years ago and was originally designed to prevent city council members (who often must vote on measures that involve alcohol sales) from having to recuse themselves from discussion or vote too often. Ethical rules in nearly every jurisdiction in the U.S. prevent elected and appointed officials from voting on matters in which they have a vested interest. For example, if a city council member owns a bar in downtown Naperville and one of his or her competitors petitions the city council for a liquor license, the council member would have a conflict of interest if he or she voted in this matter -- but recusing him or herself from the vote could result in a tie.
However, as written, this law applies to all elected and appointed city officials -- not just city council members. Some individuals have merely ignored the law and campaigned anyway, while others have suspended their campaigns until the issue is clarified. Some local lawmakers are seeking to change this provision to fulfill its original intent of restricting only city council members from holding a liquor license.
What should you do if you don't want to give up your liquor license -- but do want to hold public office?
Naperville is not the only U.S. city that holds certain restrictions on public office for liquor license holders. However, there is a relatively simple way to get around this restriction and ensure that you'll be ballot-eligible by voting time.
If you hold the liquor license in your own name as a sole proprietor, form a limited liability corporation instead. This is generally a fairly simple process, and can offer some additional advantages from a tax and liability standpoint. Transferring ownership of your liquor license to the corporation instead of holding it in your own name may be all you need to do to render yourself eligible for public office.
For more information about liquor licenses, contact Arizona Liquor Industry Consultants or a similar company.
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