Winnebago Co., Ill. (ECWd) –
This is another interesting election issue in Pecatonica Township where it is alleged that a candidate for township supervisor filed his petitions to run for the office, someone objected to his petitions, there was an initial electoral board meeting, then the township clerk submitted paperwork to the county clerk removing his and other names from the ballot – without following the electoral board objection process, after the objection had been withdrawn, and despite the boards later order that the petitions were valid.
Yesterday we wrote about the Pecatonica Township Electoral Board’s lawsuit against the township clerk (here).
There are currently three lawsuits against the township clerk related to next week’s election.
From this newest lawsuit, which also includes a Motion for Emergency Mandamus to order the clerk to place Plaintiff’s name on the ballot (links to the documents are below):
- Within the appropriate statutory filing period, Plaintiff filed his nomination papers with the Defendant’s office (See attached Exhibit A).
- By operation of the Illinois Election Code, 10 ILCS 5/10-8, the time has passed to file objections to the Plaintiff’s nomination papers.
- On January 22, 2025, OLSON-FUCA filed a Certificate of Ballot with the Winnebago County Election Department certifying the ballot for Supervisor and Candidates, Gregory Deppe and Randal L. Olson (See attached Exhibit 8).
- January 23, 2025 was the last day for the Defendant, OLSON-FUCA, to file a certificate of ballot with the Winnebago County Clerk’s office.
- There were objections filed to the Plaintiffs nomination papers. The electoral board for the Township was convened and Candidate DEPPE filed his appearance and two motions on January 29, 2025. The first motion was a Motion to Dismiss (See attached Exhibit C) and the second motion was Candidate’s Motion to Disqualify Pecatonica Township Clerk (See attached Exhibit D).
- On January 30, 2025, OLSON-FUCA submitted to Winnebago County Election Department an Amended Certification of Ballot removing Candidate, DEPPE. (See attached Exhibit E).
- On February 3, 2025, Objector filed a Motion for Withdrawal of Objection that Motion was permitted on February 6, 2025, by the Electoral Board. (See attached Exhibit F)
- Notwithstanding the fact that objections were withdrawn on February 3, 2025, OLSON-FUCA filed a Certificate of Ballot removing the candidate from the ballot herself. See attached Exhibit E. OLSON-FUCA excluded the name of Plaintiff, DEPPE, from the Certificate of Ballot but left names of other candidates whose nominating papers where deficient including but not limited to her own nominating papers.
- On February 6, 2025, the Electoral Board found “The Candidate’s nomination papers are VALID, and the Pecatonica Township Clerk is ORDERED to certify the name of Gregory Deppe to be printed on the ballot for the office of Township Supervisor for the April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election in the Township of Pecatonica.” and the Township Clerk signed that decision on February 6, 2025. (See attached Exhibit F)
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