Dr. Karen Cason This is Me

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1. 1. Belleville News-Democrat | 08/27/2005 | Councilman accused of threatening ESL clerk

   www.belleville.com/mld/bellevi - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/27/2005   Last Visited: 8/27/2005

   EAST ST. LOUIS - A clerk convicted in a vote fraud scandal who recently got her city job back told police that City Councilman Karen Cason threatened her Wednesday.
   
   In a report taken by East St. Louis Police officer John Baum, Sheila Thomas stated that at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Cason came to the city Department of Regulatory Affairs and said to her: "I got something for you.
   ...
   The complaint states that Cason then "rolled her eyes" and left.
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   Cason, who could not be reached, has not been charged with any crime or interviewed by police, according to a copy of the complaint. She is employed as pupil personnel director of East St. Louis School District 189.
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   According to the complaint that names Cason, four people besides Thomas heard the comment.
   ...
   Baum, the officer who took the report Thursday, concluded his report by stating: "At the time of this report no contact has been made with Ms. Cason.

2. 2. Belleville.com | 04/07/2006 | BACKGROUND: Haida reviewing owner-occupied property tax exemptions (03/05/2006)

   www.belleville.com/mld/bellevi - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/5/2006   Last Visited: 4/8/2006

   St. Clair County State's Attorney Robert Haida is reviewing a property tax break system that awards owner-occupancy exemptions after Assessor Gordon Bush ended two exemptions claimed by East St. Louis City Council member Karen Cason.
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   Bush also ended a tax break --- commonly known as a homestead exemption --- claimed by a land trust in which Cason is a partner for a duplex at 30 and 32 French Quarter Lane just outside Belleville.
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   Cason has paid tax bills containing these exemptions even though for many years she has been registered to vote at a third address: 3324 Converse Ave. in East St. Louis. That is the same address where she represents constituents as a Democratic committeeman for the 14th Precinct.
   
   Cason said she has never lived at the St. Louis Avenue or French Quarter addresses. She said the homestead exemptions were claimed by partners of property trusts that own the houses.
   
   The exemptions were rightfully claimed, Cason said, by "someone who has a legal and equitable interest in there, resides there. The person who pays the taxes."
   
   Cason declined to reveal the name of the trust partner who lives in the St. Louis Avenue house or the person who lived in the duplex last year.
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   Larry Dennis, a Republican precinct committeeman in East St. Louis, applauded the news that Cason lost the exemptions on both houses.
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   Even so, Dennis renewed his call for Cason to take a leave of absence from City Council while the other four members investigate questions related to her residency.
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   Cason did not deny Dennis' allegations, but the two got into a loud confrontation that ended when another council member called for the meeting's immediate adjournment.
   
   In September 2004, Cason and her daughter Laninya Cason, a St. Clair County Circuit Court judge, co-signed a mortgage for $69,025 on the French Quarter Lane duplex, county real estate records show.
   
   The duplex's owner of record is CLK Land Trust, which has an East St. Louis post office address. The duplex's tax bill was paid last year by Karen Cason, county treasurer records show.
   
   If the duplex's homestead exemption had been rescinded in 2004, then the tax bill payable in 2005 would have shot up by almost $500 --- to $5,517, count records show.
   
   The loss of the homestead exemption on Cason's St. Louis Avenue house would have boosted her 2004 tax bill from the $397 she paid to almost $657 --- a difference of $260.

3. 3. SacObserver.com [GOVERNMENT] Newly Appointed Missouri Judge Makes History

   www.sacobserver.com/government - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/8/2003   Last Visited: 5/10/2003

   Cason, who is the daughter of East St. Louis city councilman, Dr. Karen Cason, was a partner at the Hinshaw and Culbertson law firm in Belleville, where she often acted as a defense attorney for East St. Louis.
   
   While at the firm, she was partnered with Sen. James Claybourne (D-Belleville), who recommended Cason for the position.
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   As a lawyer, Cason tried cases in Illinois and St. Louis counties.
   
   "I would feel comfortable to have the experience and knowledge with this position," she said.
   
   She took a case six months out of law school because she knew it was something she wanted to do, and didn't want people saying she was too young and doesn't have the experience. So, she tried to "cram courtroom experience as much as possible."
   
   Becoming a judge became a distant dream for Cason.
   
   "Ever since I attended law school, I had thoughts of maybe becoming a judge," she said. "I didn't know what I wanted to do in college, but when I became a lawyer, it was something that I wanted to do. I ultimately want to be on the federal bench of the U.S Southern District of Illinois, but I probably would have to wait until we have a Democratic president for appointment."
   
   Cason said her mother is her role model who helped to "keep her in line and not get distracted from the outside forces that can come and grab you up."