EDWARDSVILLE - During their regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, the Madison County Board voted 17–4 against having a “day of unity” in honor of Renee Nicole Good.
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The resolution, brought forth by Alison Lamothe and the Government Relations Committee, asked that Jan. 30, 2026, be recognized as a “Day of Unity” in honor of Good because “now is a time to mourn together in peace, unity, and service” and people should “observe this moment by giving back.” The resolution failed in committee 6–2 before the Board voted on it.
Several public comments and comments from Board members addressed the resolution before the vote. During the public comment portion of the meeting, four people spoke in support of the resolution and one person asked Board members to vote against it. Several speakers noted that the Board voted in September 2025 to hold a day of remembrance in honor of Charlie Kirk.
“This Board has been asked to decide whether [Good’s] life is worth your official remembrance. If this Board believes it’s important to memorialize people and claims to spread love and unity, then this should be an easy decision,” said the evening’s first speaker. “She was helping her community, not dividing it. That is what love looks like. That is what community looks like, and frankly, that is far closer to the values of compassion and community than anything Charlie Kirk represented.”
Another speaker addressed recent anti-ICE protests. He said Good was involved in “anti-ICE watch groups” and asked the Board to vote against a resolution in her honor.
“American values do not include silencing opposition, running over law enforcement officers and storming into churches. That is the actions of Marxism and the KKK,” he said. “The good people in Madison County do not stand with this one-sided argument, with this attacking and doxxing and slandering and making war on law enforcement.”
Before the vote, Lamothe addressed her reasons for writing the resolution. She said she normally does not propose resolutions because her constituents have told her they don’t like to see the County Board “spend our time discussing things that don't really change anything,” but people had expressed their “sorrow and outrage” following Good’s death and asked Lamothe why the Board did not honor her as they did Kirk.
“I ask, as you consider this resolution, that you vote as human beings first,” Lamothe concluded. “I chose language that is very neutral, that asked that we come together.”
Board member Michael “Doc” Holliday echoed Lamothe and said Good left behind “a legacy of kindness.” Board member Paul Nicolussi agreed that Good’s death was “tragic,” but said he could not “in good faith honor someone who [broke] the law and [put] an officer’s life in danger.” He also expressed hopes for more respect for law enforcement across the country.
Board member Dalton Gray added that “any loss of life is certainly a tragedy,” but he believes the Board should “focus on matters that have a direct connection to Illinois rather than taking up national issues.” Mick Madison said that “a vote to support this resolution is a vote for lawlessness and against law enforcement.” Shawndell Wilson argued that Kirk’s death was also a national issue and said she would support the resolution for Good.
Ultimately, the Board voted 17–4 against implementing the resolution. Holliday, Bill Stoutenborough, Wilson and Lamothe voted in favor of the resolution. Frank Dickerson, Bobby Ross, Brynn Kincheloe, Victor Valentine and Nick Petrillo were absent.
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