Park Board ends investigation of commissioner’s residency, agrees to move on

An investigation examining community concerns regarding the residency of a longtime Wilmette Park Board commissioner has concluded.

Wilmette Park District Executive Director Chris Lindgren said during the board’s Monday, Aug. 11 meeting that the third-party investigation found a “court would more likely find (Mike) Murdock retains his residency in Wilmette and remains qualified to serve as a park commissioner.”

As previously reported by The Record, Murdock became the subject of the Park Board investigation into his residency after allegations again surfaced that he does not live in the Village of Wilmette.

Park Board President Patrick Lahey at the time said that he had “multiple conversations” with residents who claimed that Murdock does not live at his stated address in Wilmette. Lahey noted that the district would consult an “expert law firm” to investigate Murdock’s residency.

The district hired local government firm Ancel Glink to conduct the “independent investigation,” Lindgren said during the Aug. 11 session.

While reading a prepared statement, Lindgren told commissioners that Ancel Glink investigators reported “based on the totality of its investigation, it found Murdock’s answers to be credible.”

Lindgren said Ancel Glink also collected information from public records and other sources before reaching its conclusion and recommending the board not further pursue the matter “at this time based on the information it was able to review.”

Lindgren concluded his remarks by saying the district is “excited to put this behind us and close out the investigation.”

Murdock offered a brief response during the meeting, opening his comments by saying the district’s statement on the matter “is what it is.”

He also said that the statement “sounds like it’s pretty definitive,” while noting that as part of the investigation he had several conversations with Adam Simon, the lead attorney from Ancel Glink.

Simon and Ancel Glink also provide attorney services and legal counsel for the neighboring Winnetka Park District Board of Commissioners.

Murdock asked his fellow commissioners if “anyone has any concerns” regarding either the investigation or its results.

“I would like to consider the matter closed … but if there is any doubt, let’s deal with it,” Murdock said. “Otherwise, let’s move on.”

Lahey agreed, saying that the consensus among the board is to “consider the matter closed.”

The Record reported earlier this summer that part of the residency concerns stem from comments Murdock made to Wilmette’s Zoning Board of Appeals in early June. Murdock at the time was seeking zoning relief for a garage on his Wilmette property in Kenilworth Gardens.

A recording of that meeting showed that when Zoning Commissioner Brad Falkof questioned Murdock as to whether he currently lives in the home, Murdock said the situation is “complicated.”

The 2025 investigation is not the first time Murdock’s Wilmette residency has been called into question.

In 2023 during an interview with The Record, when Murdock was seeking a third nonconsecutive term on the Park Board, he talked about previous criticism of his residency by listing a number of streets he’s called home in his time living in Wilmette.

But he also detailed an affiliation he has with South Bend, Indiana, which at the time, per The Record’s reporting, he called a second home. His wife, Eileen Murdock works in South Bend for the University of Notre Dame, and Murdock owns a cocktail bar in South Bend. He, listing a South Bend residential address, has previously been identified as the bar’s primary contact.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.