Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Police mum about death ofmayor in Springfield, Ill.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. • Springfield
Mayor Timothy J. Davlin was a
quintessential community
booster-turned-politician whose
financial life had lately started
unraveling in full view of his
constituents. Recent local news
stories revealed that he owed $
90,000 in back taxes, that the IRS
had put liens on his Springfield
home and that questions had
been raised about a relative's
estate he was administering.
Davlin, 53, was found dead in his
home early Tuesday, on the
morning he was supposed to
stand before a judge and start
answering some of those
questions. Local media reported
he died of an apparent self-
inflicted gunshot wound, but
authorities weren't confirming
that Tuesday afternoon.
"He's been fine, from what we
could see," said Ernie Slottag,
the Democratic mayor's
spokesman. He said the death
has rocked City Hall, where
Davlin was well-liked. "A great
fog has settled."
Davlin's body was found by
police who responded to a 911
call shortly after 9 a.m. Davlin
had failed to show up for a
court appearance at which he
was supposed to update the
court on the status of the estate
of a late cousin.
Illinois State Police were asked by
local police to investigate the
death, because Davlin was a city
official. In a Springfield news
conference, State Police Acting
Director Jonathon Monken
declined to discuss the cause of
death. He said state police were
searching the house and talking
to neighbors, and would be
present at an autopsy today.
Monken said officials don't yet
know who placed the 911 call
that led police to Davlin's home,
and that the source of the call is
part of the investigation. When
asked whether there were any
indications of foul play, he said:
"It's a death investigation, so we
can't rule out any possibilities."
By midafternoon Tuesday, the
city's official home page had
been cleared of all graphics
except a smiling portrait of
Davlin, over the words, "Mayor
Timothy Davlin 1957-2010," and
a link to his biography. Davlin, a
Democrat has been mayor since
2003.
Davlin described his issues with
the IRS as "a dispute," which he
said was over taxes on
investments he had cashed in to
buy his home.
Davlin was also embroiled in a
controversy over the estate of a
late cousin, of which Davlin was
the administrator. According to
previous media reports, the
attorney for the estate withdrew
from the case in October, saying
Davlin had failed to provide
financial documentation
regarding the estate. It was a
status hearing in that case where
Davlin failed to appear Tuesday
morning.
Davlin had earned about $
119,000 annually as mayor of the
city of 120,000. He wasn't
running for re-election in the
city's Feb. 22 primary and April 5
general election.
He seemed "like a weight had
been lifted from his shoulders"
since deciding not to run for a
third term, said Springfield
Alderman Gail Simpson. She
tearfully described him as a
"wonderful guy" who kept the
city afloat through hard times.
Davlin, a Springfield native and a
former insurance and investment
broker, was heavily involved in
local business and civic
organizations. As mayor, he
wrestled with a strapped city
budget that forced him to order
layoffs which, colleagues say, he
found especially difficult.
"It's grueling," Davlin said of the
office, in a radio interview last
month. "No one has any idea
what it's like until they've been
there."
Alderman Frank Kunz, who is
mayor pro tem, will serve as
acting mayor until the city
appoints a new mayor, which
must be done within 60 days.
In a statement e-mailed to
reporters, Gov. Pat Quinn called
Davlin "not only a champion for
Springfield, but also for the
entire state."
Davlin had four children and
four grandchildren.
The Associated Press contributed
to this report.
Copyright 2010
www.STLtoday.com. All rights
reserved. This material may not
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rewritten or redistributed.
Posted in Govt-and-politics,
Illlinois on Wednesday,
December 15, 2010 12:20 am
Updated: 10:54 pm. | Tags:
Kevin Mcdermott, Illinois Politics

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