Adams County Board selects Hinkamper to fill vacancy; members question process

QUINCY — The Adams County Board voted to select Russ Hinkamper to fill the District 7 vacancy created by the retirement of Theresa Bockhold Monday night.

The move comes about a month after Adams County Board Chairman Bret Austin nominated businessman Adam Booth to the position, only to see the board vote not to support his selection.

The meeting was specifically called to discuss and vote on the selection, which was 12-7 for Hinkamper. His brother, Ryan Hinkamper (R-District 2), who already sits on the board, was in attendance and abstained from the vote, citing the conflict.

Both men had the opportunity to address the board before the vote was taken.

Hinkamper retired from the Illinois Department of Transportation at the end of the 2024 and said he hoped to bring some of that experience in road building to the board. He also sits on the Melrose Township Board of Trustees.

Booth has used his experience in Heating and Air Conditioning to address concerns with the ongoing HVAC issues with the Quincy Public Schools and has also weighed in on the upcoming system replacement for the Adams County Courthouse. He is currently developing the former Moorman’s/ADM site on North 30th and is seeking to have a rail spur added to assist in his packaging and shipping business.

Jon McCoy (R-District 5) wanted to address the board on the selection process last month and had the opportunity to do so Monday night.

McCoy, who is also the chairman of the Adams County Republican Central Committee, asked for input from the 11 Republican precinct committeemen within District 7 and they supported Hinkamper by a 9-2 vote.

McCoy and Austin then verbally sparred over their communications regarding the process. McCoy used the term “bad behavior” in describing Austin’s attempt to ramrod Booth’s selection through.

“I’m referring to a quick vote,” which McCoy said Austin wanted. He also charged that Austin said, “Let me have this one. I’ll let you have the next one” in reference to filling the District 6 vacancy created by Les Post’s retirement from the County Board, which went into effect after Monday’s meeting.

Austin denies using those words, saying he didn’t seek a quid pro quo. He asked McCoy to prove he said it and McCoy said Austin was “too smart” to put it in writing.

Austin said McCoy supported Booth’s appointment when it was first brought up to him, which McCoy acknowledged as being a good choice, but saying more candidates still needed to be considered and that Hinkamper was also a good choice who had the support of the precinct committeemen.

The other two District 7 representatives, Joe Zanger and Brent Fischer, voted to support Booth’s appointment at last month’s meeting, but in Monday’s head-to-head vote, they supported Hinkamper.

Steve McQueen (R-District 4) said the County Board should implement a consistent process to fill vacancies which included precinct committeeman input, disclosure of potential business conflicts, résumés and interviews.

A company that Booth has some involvement in but is run by his brother, Eric, leases space to the Adams County Ambulance/EMS at the former Ellington School location, which is a block away from EMS headquarters in the 30th and Chestnut neighborhood. Some members had concerns about that causing Booth to have a potential conflict of interest.