County Commissioners
The County is a non-township form of government, with three at-large commissioners serving six-year terms.
David W. Messman (R)
(618) 446-3330
ddemess@wabash.net
First Elected: 2016
Up for Re-election: 2022
Public position on solar: None found
Occupation: Manager of Timberland Resources of Illinois, LLC; Listed as an Agent of Messman Energy Corp.
Other community involvement: Appointed to the Board of Directors of Citizens National Bank of Albion. Serves on Albion Medical Board, and is a member of the St. Sebastian Catholic Church, where he serves on the Parish Council Board. Mr. Messman is listed as a member of the Wabash General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.
Attend school in the county: Yes. Edwards County High School, 1980. BA in psychology from Eastern Illinois University, 1984.
Mr. Messman is a fourth-generation farmer on his 1,100 acre farm. His parents owned and operated several farming and oil companies, including RAM Drilling, TMC Farms, Marco Oil, TMC Oil, and Sentry Investment, all in southern Illinois. In 1982, their extensive oil property holdings were sold for around $22 million to Gary Energy. To avoid recognizing gain and the resulting tax liability, TMC Resources and its five subsidiaries chose to liquidate, as permitted under I.R.C. § 337, and, through a series of transactions, distribute their assets to the four shareholders, the Messman children. This sparked a multi-year tax investigation and litigation that was finally resolved in 1999 (Barford v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue).
Mr. Messman worked in oilfield services from 1984 to 1994, and then began managing his family farm operations.
In 2019, he made the news when he cut the words “Trump Demand Greg Kelly Release” into a 100-acre field in an effort to get his cousin released from jail in Japan.
Matthew R. St. Ledger (R)
(618) 302-0881
Up for Re-election: 2024
Public position on solar: None found
Boards and Committees: On the Board of the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority (SIEDA), representing Edwards County.
Occupation: Vice President of Agricultural Lending, American Farm Mortgage & Financial Services Financial professional (Louisville, KY).
Mr. St. Ledger’s LinkedIn page shows a financial sector work history beginning in 1997. His tenure in most of the eight entries listed for employment is brief. Excluding his self-employed listing and the position he now holds (since 2022), he has worked from 1-4 years in all places, with a tenure of 12 years at Farm Credit Illinois, from 2004-2017. In 2017, he joined First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust as Regional President and was responsible for business lines including agriculture, commercial and personal banking, Trust & Wealth Management, and Insurance. Prior to joining First Mid, he served at Farm Credit Illinois in various positions including Vice President of Financial Services. St. Ledger earned an associate degree in Accounting from Olney Central College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness Economics from Southern Illinois University. He was born in Albion, IL.
Duane Lear (R)
(618) 446-5253
First Elected: Since at least 2016
Up for Re-election: 2026
Public position on solar: None found
Occupation: Certified energy efficiency installer, under the company name Lear Electrical. He is also listed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as an intrastate only freight carrier, with the cargo indicated as “utilities”. Listed with the Illinois Commerce Commission as a Public Utility Agent.
Local Officials
County Assessor
Sheila Schnepper (R)
assessor@edco-il.us
618-445-3591
AKA Sheila Markman, Real Estate Broker, Voted for Trump in 2020, pro-gun, 3 children, publicly not happy about COVID-19 restrictions, public persona of cynicism of climate change, staunch Christian.
County Clerk
Mary Beth Smith (R)
countyclerk@edco-il.us
618-445-2115
Old acquaintance of Senator Sally Jo Tetley - possibly friends. Married, mother, gardener, family of veterans.
County Treasurer
Deborah L. Smith
treasurer@edco-il.us
618-445-3581
Graduated from Monahans High School; graduated from Austin Community College; treasurer since 2014; Previously Executive Director of Edwards County Housing Authority.
County Sheriff
Darby Boewe (R)
dboewe@ilsos.gov
618-445-2721
Elected in 2008. Long-life resident of Edwards county; currently residing in West Salem. Graduated from West Salem Grade School and Edwards County High School. Member of Moravian Church, Edwards County Sportsman’s Club, NRA; Volunteer at West Salem Fire Department. Supports local 4-H programs and volunteered with Edwards County Fair for several years. Supporter of Edwards County School athletic programs.
Graduate of the FBI National Academy, Illinois Sheriff’s Association Sheriffs Management Institute, National Sheriffs Institute.
5 children, 11 grandchildren.
According to the Sheriff, the sheriff's department has a tight budget and the equipment required for duties, including vehicles, are purchased using partial grand funds, money generated from selling older and seized vehicles. The department only recently started giving health insurance to its employees. This Could be used for the strategy.
