An preliminary subject of 17 candidates for Homer Glen trustee was narrowed to 9 after the 5 remaining objections have been dropped Tuesday.
Nomination objections have been filed for 15 of the 17 affected candidates who utilized to run for 3 director positions.
Pericles Abbasi, an lawyer with Craig Carlson who opposed 14 of these petitions, withdrew the 5 pending objections to the petitions of Ruben L. Pazmino, Kevin Koukol, John Hayes, Katie Surges and Kyle Surges. Since their objections have been eliminated, they are going to seem on the April 1 poll.
Carlson objected to their filings as a result of he noticed that some voters signed 4 or extra petitions nominating candidates. According to the electoral code, voters can solely signal petitions for the variety of accessible seats. Since the three trustees’ phrases expire within the spring, voters will solely have the ability to signal three petitions.
Abbasi mentioned their nomination paperwork have been all notarized on the identical date. According to him, it could be troublesome to show in what order the residents signed the candidates’ paperwork. Even if the petitioners have been introduced earlier than the elections board to testify, they most likely wouldn’t keep in mind the primary three nomination petitions they signed, Abbasi mentioned.
Abbasi mentioned duplicate signatures may very well be cut up among the many 5 candidates, leaving everybody with sufficient signatures to stay on the poll.
Carlson mentioned he is glad the election hearings are over and the village can transfer ahead with 9 candidates for trustee on April 1. Because there are fewer than 13 candidates on the poll, there will likely be no major in February for the Homer Glen municipal race. .
Carlson mentioned he felt there was an organized group that was attempting to make a mockery of the electoral course of by forcing primaries. He mentioned he believed the candidates have been attempting to destroy the system and weren’t severe as a result of good buddies and spouses had proven as much as run for a similar three positions. He mentioned he hopes the village can transfer ahead in a method that respects the democratic course of.
Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown
Pericles Abbasi, an lawyer for Craig Carlson who opposed 14 nominating petitions, withdrew objections on Dec. 17, 2024, to 5 of the remaining candidates earlier than the Homer Glen Board of Elections. Of the 17 candidates who utilized for 3 director positions, 9 candidates will seem on the poll. (Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown)
“It’s nobody’s fault however them that many of those candidates did not observe the foundations,” Carlson mentioned. “No one is above the foundations and laws established by state legal guidelines.”
The Election Council has been listening to challenges for greater than a month.
The nomination petitions of incumbent Rose Reynders and candidate Michael LePore have been the one ones that went unchallenged.
Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike mentioned the elections board heard every case objectively and took state election regulation into consideration when deciding on the petitions.
“Some folks confuse the obligations of the election board with what they wish to name energy,” he mentioned. “As mayor and president of the electoral council, I’ve and can proceed to respect the regulation and never present favoritism.”
The Board of Elections decided final month that each Nicholas S. Muller and Richard J. Modelski had sufficient legitimate signatures despite the fact that the signatures in query have been crossed out so they are going to seem on the poll.
The board had beforehand eliminated eight candidates from the poll, together with incumbent trustee Jennifer Trzos-Consolino, John Walters, Theresa “Tammy” Hayes and James “Jay” Roti as a result of additionally they filed to run for varsity board. Under state regulation, village trustee and faculty board member are thought of incompatible positions, the board dominated.
The board eliminated Daniel Gutierrez for inadequate signatures. Both Cesar E. Marin and Ethan D. Fialko have been eliminated as a result of they didn’t embrace their appropriate house addresses on their petitions.
Heidi “Hadley” Pacella was eliminated earlier this month as a result of utilizing “Hadley” was a misnomer that drew consideration to her advocacy efforts to protect Hadley Road from a Will County widening mission, the advise. The electoral code doesn’t enable somebody to make use of a nickname that may very well be thought of a political slogan.
Carlson additionally took concern with Pacella’s residency and the truth that he had lived in Homer Glen for a yr earlier than the potential February major. Even although it had beforehand been taken off the poll, the board was required to concern a ruling on any objections nonetheless pending, mentioned board lawyer Michael Carroll.
The board on Tuesday questioned when Pacella moved to Homer Glen from Orland Park, taking into consideration when she up to date her driver’s license and the place her kids attended college, however didn’t come to a consensus.
Neitzke-Troike mentioned she believes Pacella has not confirmed residency. Clerk Candice Bielski abstained from the vote, and trustee Sue Steilen mentioned she would give Pacella the advantage of the doubt of getting lived in Homer Glen for a whole yr.
Michelle Mullins is a contract reporter for the Daily Southtown.
