Staples & Paperclips – Educating our future!

DuPage Co. (ECWd) –

While researching other matters pertaining to the College of DuPage, I came across a rather humorous set of minutes.  Humorous because  it is clear our higher educational institutions not only understand the law, but actually apply it properly.

Humorous because our own State’s Attorney and County Clerk failed to not only follow the law, but even comprehend that it was the law.  Top that off with the attempts by the disgraced former County Chairman, Chris Patrick, to trivialize the action we took in challenging illegal petitions and it is no wonder we have the issues in this county that we have. (Click here for the minutes of an Election Challenge hearing at COD)

Add to that, the failure of local media to even report on the facts surrounding the issues raised in the objections…

OBJECTION: On behalf of Objector Joseph A. Kenny, Attorney Kory A. Atkinson objected that Candidate lmpellizzeri has failed to bind his petition sheets in book form as required by Section 10-4 of the Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 511•1 et seq.), and all such petition sheets and all signatures contained therein are invalid.

TESTIMONY:
• Mr. lmpellizzeri submitted “Apparent Conformity Checklist for Filing of Nominating Papers for Local Offices” as lmpellizzeri Exhibit 1. He stated this checklist did not stipulate that Nominating Papers had to be bound. He further stated that his Nominating Papers were paper-clipped together; however, he believed that he removed the paperclip when he handed the Nominating Papers to Ms. Neely.

• Attorney Atkinson, on behalf of Objector Kenny, requested the Education Officers Electoral Board declare Mr. lmpellizzeri’s Nomination Papers to be invalid, pursuant to the Illinois Election Code.

MOTION: Wessel moved, Svoboda seconded, THAT THE EDUCATION OFFICERS ELECTORAL BOARD UPHOLD THE OBJECTIONS DECREED BY OBJECTOR
KENNY BECA– USE CANDIDATE IMPELLIZZERI FAILED TO BIND HIS PETITION SHEETS IN BOOK FORM AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 10-4 OF THE ILLINOIS ELECTION CODE (10 ILCS 5/1 1 ET SEQ.), AND ALL SUCH PETITION SHEETS AND ALL SIGNATURES CONTAINED THEREIN ARE INVALID. On roll call vote, Wessel yes, Svoboda yes, Carlin yes. Motion carried unanimously.

DECISION: The Nomination Papers of Candidate lmpellizzeri are declared INVALID, and Mr. lmpellizzeri’s name will be removed from the April 5, 2011 ballot.

“On behalf of the Education Officers Electoral Board, Chairman Wessel stated she understands the frustration experienced by Mr. lmpellizzeri ; however, the law is very clear on this point and must be upheld.”

The law is very clear and must be upheld!

Well isn’t that an interesting concept for an institution of higher education!  Yes, the College of DuPage was not only able to comprehend the law, but they were able to uphold it and enforce it. Sad that our own county officials were so focused on the messengers that they failed to follow or even care about the law.

A note of interest to this is that our own county clerk uses a checklist that now includes “stapled” as one of the items to look for when petitions are turned in. That was done after our objection challenges that some of the self proclaimed people of importance tried to trivialize.  If it was such a petty thing as many have tried to imply, then why is it now something looked for in our county?

The fact of the matter is we were spot on when we raised the issue, and it is clear our own education system teaches the importance of following the law, no matter how trivial you think it is.

Don’t like the law? Change it!