Yes, folks, it’s true: Brian James O’Neill is once again on a ballot in Richland County.
Yes, he’s “one ill” one…Brian James O’Neill II…fortunately for you, without smellovision.
Only this time, it’s not for a county board seat, as it has been in every Primary election in years past for who knows how long.
This time, O’Neill thinks he can be sheriff.
O’Neill’s name appears on the Democrat (not “Democratic,” as it’s listed at the top; the party’s official name is “Democrat;” if O’Neill were interested in fixing anything, he could start with that) ballot this season as a sheriff candidate, beneath the real candidate, Ronald L. Krueger. We say real candidate because as anyone in Richland with a brain already knows, Brian James O’Neill is one of those poor souls whose quality of life might be improved with some arrangements that keep him out of the public eye…such as and institution, something that was by and large done away with years ago for different and varying reasons in Illinois as well as other states; meaning only the most desperate of cases are institutionalized, and people like O’Neill, who continues to be a danger to himself and others, is free to do as he pleases.
This means that the man who is alleged to have made inappropriate gestures and sounds to two very young juvenile girls in front of his house in late 2012 (and is still pending a jury trial over), the man who stands in the middle of Whittle Avenue and screams when he sees certain people, the man who makes constant references to having a “sex dungeon” in his basement, the man who is escorted from public meetings because he refuses to bathe for weeks on end and the stench becomes overwhelming, is actually in the running for a public office as serious as sheriff.
As history shows, he probably won’t get far…but the danger is there. And worst of all, if the jokesters who ordinarily vote for O’Neill every two years (11 in all, himself being among that number) actually increase their presence, the choice will be O’Neill v. incumbent Andy Hires this fall…yet another colossal failure and waste of ballot space, as Krueger could actually relieve the county of some of the surreptitious garbage Hires has heaped upon us for the past eight years.
In order to aid in your ballot selection, therefore, we present this Read the Lead for you, the back page story appearing in the current (February 2014) edition of Disclosure, “Olney menace fired up and ready to sue,” so you can be an informed voter come March 18:
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OLNEY—A rather brief and only slightly informative meeting was held by the Olney city council on January 13.
The highlight of the 25-minute meeting was the infamous Brian James O’Neill II, who was riled up as usual.
O’Neill’s presentation during the public input portion of the meeting was focused on the fact that mayor Ray Vaughn “violated his rights” (when Vaughn had O’Neill removed at the previous council meeting because his stench was too overwhelming and was causing a distraction). O’Neill continued stating, “It’s a hate crime when you talk about people with disabilities.”
O’Neill felt that he cannot help his odor at times because he takes medication, which he says makes him smell.
As his speech began to grow more tangential, Vaughn counted down the last minute of O’Neill’s floor time, and at the closing of it, after O’Neill sat down, Vaughn said to city manager Larry Taylor that when someone is speaking (being a citizen or giving a speech) that person is to direct their attention and speak to the chairman, which is Vaughn.
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You can find out what happened next, including O’Neill’s unnecessary bloviating, by simply clicking this link to get started on your online membership to the e-Edition, or you can pick up a copy of this issue on stands until next Wednesday, February 19, at MotoMart in Olney, Bottle Hut of Noble, or Marilyn’s Liquor Cabinet in Olney…next issue hits the stands Wednesday, so don’t miss out!