Efforts underway in Normal to throw out election petitions for jobs that don’t exist

Town of Normal’s Electoral Board. (Photo courtesy 25 News)

By 25 News

NORMAL – Two residents of Normal, including an ex-town council member, have formally objected to election petitions for two government jobs that don’t exist, and a third that is an appointed position.

The objections were filed Monday, which is the first step toward a possible legal battle. They call for the town’s electoral board to throw out the petitions for candidates seeking election as the town’s supervisor, collector and town clerk.

Normal does not have a supervisor or collector. Normal has a town clerk, but it’s an appointed post.

Supervisor candidate Robert Shoraga, Collector candidate Charles Sila, Clerk candidate Amy Conklin and their backers say state law requires the election of all three positions for incorporated towns like Normal.

The objections were filed by former council member Jeffrey Fritzen and Patrick Dullard, who this fall successfully fought off efforts to place a referendum on the November ballot to divide the town into six districts.

Fritzen and Dullard will be represented by former Normal and Bloomington City Attorney Todd Greenburg. He represented Dullard in the districting dispute.

The electoral board will review the objections Friday at 11 a.m. in council chambers. The board’s decision can be appealed in court.

The electoral board consists of Mayor Chris Koos, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McCarthy, and Town Clerk Angie Huonker. The clerk won’t hear this case because her office is involved in the fued. Huonker will be replaced by Council member Scott Preston.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…