Barrington opposition slate declared invalid for spring ballot

While Barrington's April 9 village board election isn't yet decisively uncontested, it became increasingly likely Thursday that voters won't see more than one choice per seat on the ballot.

The village's electoral board declared the nominating petitions of trustee candidates James Magnanenzi, Michael Kozel and JoAnn Fletcher invalid because they didn't include the required statements of economic interest.

Kozel and Fletcher, who were present at Thursday's hearing, offered no excuse except that they subsequently filed at the Cook County clerk's office on Monday, Jan. 7 — long past the Dec. 26 deadline.

They didn't say whether they might appeal the electoral board's ruling or even run as write-in candidates. They said that decision would likely be made when their running mate, Magnanenzi, returns from Florida next week.

Nevertheless, Kozel asked the electoral board — Village President Karen Darch, Village Clerk Adam Frazier and senior village Trustee Beth Raseman — to exercise what discretion it could in allowing them to remain on the ballot.

“You would take this out of the hands of voters and I'm not sure how fair that is to the village,” Kozel said.

But attorney Steve Elrod advised the board that the requirements of the law were clear on the need for a timely filing of a statement of economic interest.

Kozel and Fletcher also pursued two legal arguments by which to throw out Barrington resident John C. Sciaccotta Sr.'s objection against them.

Fletcher pointed out that the objection was filed on Jan. 3, while her paperwork states that Jan. 2 is the deadline.

And Kozel asked that Darch recuse herself from the electoral board as she's running uncontested on a slate with the three trustee candidates — Tim Roberts, Pete Douglas and Sue Padula — running against his.

But Elrod said the law was firmly against both arguments.

When the candidate filing deadline was moved by the state legislature from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26, the objection deadline — always five business days later — was also moved.

Political affiliations and party memberships don't create an obligation for electoral board members to recuse themselves, Elrod said.

Invalid: Two hopefuls pursued legal argument to toss objection