7 Democrats to stay on Will County Board ballot
By Cindy Wojdyla Cain ccain@stmedianetwork.com September 20, 2012 3:46PM
Updated: October 22, 2012 6:22AM
The 2012 Will County Board ballot battle has ended.
The Illinois Supreme Court said Thursday that it would not hear an appeal over the ballot status of seven Democrats running for the Will County Board in the Nov. 6 election.
Republican Party Chairman Ed Ronkowski had filed the appeal on Wednesday in another attempt to keep the Democrats off the ballot.
Ronkowski asked the court to expedite its review and to stay a ruling by the 3rd District Appellate Court that put the candidates back on the ballot.
The court agreed to expedite its decision, but it decided not to take the case.
“It’s over,” Democratic Party Chairman Scott Pyles said. “They’re not going to hear it, and they’re not going to take the case.”
Pyles said he was pleased with the outcome.
“I think the winner of this decision is the voters of Will County,” he said. “They’re going to get a choice in the various county board districts.”
Ronkowski said the Supreme Court’s decision ended the case.
“There is no other avenue we can pursue,” he said.
The candidates were appointed to fill ballot vacancies by the Democratic Party after the March primary.
Republicans filed objections that said the party didn’t properly notify all precinct committeemen that appointment committees were being set up and the choices were going to be made.
But Pyles argued that proper notice was given and that the state allows political parties some leeway on how they conduct their affairs.
Republicans won at the Will County Electoral Board level. Democrats won at the appellate court level.
Ronkowski said Thursday that he hadn’t read the full appellate court decision yet.
“I am very curious as to what possible reason the appellate court is going to have in keeping them on the ballot,” he said.
The candidates involved in the appeal are:
Mario Carlasare, Frankfort; Donald Moran, Romeoville; Reed Bible, Plainfield; Chester Strzelczyk III, Lockport; Chris Griffin, Naperville; Santino Lettieri, Mokena; and John Sanchez Jr., Mokena.
In August, Bible was named to replace Mike Costello, of Plainfield, who dropped out of the District 6 county board race.
Irene Garcia-Wittke of Plainfield was an eighth Democrat appointed to the ballot.
Democrats didn’t appeal her removal from the ballot by the electoral board because she did not have enough valid signatures on her nominating petitions.
