GENEVA – Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez will not be weighing in on whether video poker machines should be allowed in the unincorporated areas of Kane County.

Perez has resigned from a county task force that is studying the issue. Gov. Pat Quinn recently legalized video poker to help pay for a $31 billion statewide construction program, but the legislation allows counties and individual municipalities the choice of whether to allow video poker.

“It’s my job to enforce the laws, not make the laws,” Perez said on Wednesday. “There needs to be a separation of powers.”

The Kane County Board – not the task force – ultimately will decide.

Perez sent an e-mail two days ago to task force chairman and Kane County Board member Jesse Vazquez, D-Montgomery, saying that he was resigning from the task force. The task force met for the first time Wednesday.

Perez said his decision to resign from the task force had nothing to do with his ongoing budget battles with Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay and the Kane County Board.

“It has to do with the nature of the subject,” Perez said.

McConnaughay created the task force to study the issue. She could not be reached for comment about Perez’ resignation.

Also on the task force are Kane County State’s Attorney John Barsanti, and Kane County Board members Drew Frasz, R-Elburn, John Hoscheit, R-St. Charles and Bob Kudlicki, R-Hampshire.

The task force plans to meet next month with the 25 establishments that have liquor licenses with Kane County and would be eligible to have video poker. After that, the task force plans to have a public hearing on issue.

“Our task is to figure out whether video poker is a good thing or bad thing for Kane County,” Vazquez said.

Neighboring communities have already taken a stand on the issue. The DuPage County Board recently unanimously approved banning video gambling in the unincorporated areas of DuPage County. The board passed a resolution that video poker would present a variety of adverse impacts on DuPage County residents, including the potential for corruption along with law enforcement and social costs.

Vazquez said he expected Kane County’s task force to make a recommendation in the next six weeks.