Wilkinson, who once served prison time for these offenses, is now tasked with helping plan the future of Freeport — a city already plagued by a decade of deepening drug crises, gun violence, and rising crime under Mayor Miller’s leadership.

The appointment has left community members outraged and confused. For many, this decision represents more than just a questionable appointment — it’s symbolic of a disturbing disregard for the challenges Freeport is facing.

“How can we begin to clean up this city when leadership continues to empower individuals who poison it?” asked Makiah Stacy. “We deserve better than this.”

Compounding concerns is Wilkinson’s political history: records show he donated to State Senator Andrew Chesney’s campaign, Chesney for Illinois, in July 2023. Now, serious questions are being raised: did Senator Chesney knowingly accept campaign funds from a convicted drug trafficker? And if not, how did these contributions go unnoticed?

While the legality of the donation may not be in question, the optics are troubling. Public trust in government requires not only transparency, but sound judgment. And for a sitting mayor to elevate a felon convicted of trafficking meth to a city commission — and for that individual to have contributed to a sitting state senator — is more than a lapse in oversight. It's a failure in leadership.

Even more troubling is the fact that Mayor Miller has refused to address the concerns head-on. No explanation has been offered about why Wilkinson was selected, and no apology has been issued to residents who feel betrayed by the decision.

This isn’t the first time the Mayor has dismissed concerns about accountability. During a 2024 council discussion over a proposed ordinance to require annual drug testing for elected officials, Mayor Miller infamously responded:
“What is your goal? Drug test me all you want — it’s not like you can remove me from office.”

That comment — which many found flippant and dismissive — has taken on new meaning in light of her latest appointment. To many, it reflects a broader culture of indifference inside City Hall, where transparency is optional and public input is secondary to political loyalty.

With only two aldermen opposing the appointment, Larry Sanders and James Monroe, the question must be asked: who is speaking up for the people of Freeport?

At a time when the city is desperate for renewal, safety, and serious leadership, Freeport instead finds itself stuck with a mayor willing to appoint convicted felons to positions of power — and a system where political donations appear to buy influence, regardless of background.

The people of Freeport deserve to know:

• Was Wilkinson’s past known to Mayor Miller when she appointed him?

• Did Senator Chesney knowingly accept campaign donations from a convicted drug trafficker?

• Are there other felons currently serving on boards or commissions in our city?

And most importantly:
Is this the direction we want our city to continue heading for the next four years?

The silence from city leadership is deafening — but the people are watching. And Freeport deserves answers.