Thread: IL: Sparks fly at Carpentersville ballot hearing

http://www.dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=283142

Sparks fly at Carpentersville ballot hearing

By Larissa Chinwah
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2007

A Carpentersville electoral board hearing Monday quickly dissolved into a yelling match as angry residents and village board hopefuls questioned the validity of objections filed by two residents against the petitions of the four candidates.

The electoral board — comprised of Village President Bill Sarto, Trustee Kay Teeter and Village Clerk Terri Wilde — convened to determine the next step after objections were filed against the petitions of incumbents Paul Humpfer and Judy Sigwalt, as well as newcomers Keith Hinz and Frank Stoneham.

In papers filed last Monday, Doug Ibendahl, the chairman of the Republican Young Professionals of Illinois who is representing residents Jesus Berreles and Janet Brown, cited at least five reasons why each of the petitions were insufficient.

Berreles and Brown allege the four petitioners forged signatures, included signatures of people who were not registered to vote at the address they provided, used duplicate signatures and claimed some names were printed rather than written.

If successful, the objections would force the candidates off the April 17 ballot.

The meeting reached a boiling point when the electoral board announced it needed more time to make a ruling.

On the advice of Michael Duggan, an attorney with Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, the board moved to conduct a binder review of the challenged signatures and voter registration addresses against records on file with Kane County officials on Thursday morning.

That did not sit well with the candidates or a majority of the residents who attended the hearing to verify their signatures and voter information. Many called the charges “ridiculous.”

Humpfer argued many of those whose signatures or voter registrations were in question were on hand to verify their information.

“We have people here who are willing to sign affidavits. Why can’t we finish this tonight?” asked Humpfer, who initially requested Sarto remove himself from the hearing, questioning Sarto’s ability to remain impartial. “We have the voter registration from the county.”

Sigwalt, meanwhile, contended the objections were an attempt to kill the proposed ordinance cracking down on landlords and business owners who rent to or hire illegal immigrants.

“Anyone who has been vocal about illegal aliens has been objected to,” Sigwalt said, referring to the tabled Illegal Alien Immigration Relief Act that would also recognize English as the village’s official language.

Sigwalt added the signatures of her mother, son and husband were challenged.

“They didn’t do their homework and it was like they just went willy-nilly with the check marks,” Sigwalt said. “They don’t know who they have objected to.”

Sarto denied allegations that the board was intentionally trying to delay the proceedings,

“We were just following the rules set up by state law,” Sarto said.

The antics of the candidates and residents puzzled Ibendahl, who called the hearing a very simple process.

“We are following the same procedures under Illinois law. These are legitimate, good faith objections,” Ibendahl said. “We are following the same procedures of the hundreds of objections that are going on right now all across the state.”

Candidates, electoral board members and Duggan will conduct a binder check against voter registration records on file with the Kane County clerk’s office at 9 a.m. Thursday in Geneva.

The electoral board will reconvene at 3 p.m. Saturday in village hall to declare the outcome of the findings.

we were in carpentersville over the weekend, haven't been there in probably a year and we thought it was a pit then. i really don't think it can be saved. mexicans out numbered gringos/blacks easily 3 to 1. i heard very little english. when we wanted to write a check the store didn't know how to deal with it. in the particular store we were in almost everyone was mexican and paid in cash. it was a major eye opener!!!

“Anyone who has been vocal about illegal aliens has been objected to,” Sigwalt said, referring to the tabled Illegal Alien Immigration Relief Act that would also recognize English as the village’s official language.

This kills me about English. It is the states official language! Now we have to go city by city too?