Ruling delayed on teen’s park district candidacy
A hearing Tuesday to determine if Jona Augustyn will remain in the running for the Arlington Heights Park District board was continued to Thursday, as officials continue to examine signatures on his petition, according to the Cook County clerk’s website.
Objections to Augustyn’s nominating petition were filed by park board President Maryfran Leno, Vice President Myles Naughton and Tim Gelinas. Leno and Gelinas also are running for three available seats in the April 9 election. Augustyn is a Buffalo Grove High School senior.
A minimum 125 signatures from registered voters in the park district were needed to be a candidate. Augustyn has 129 signatures, but the objection questions the validity of 26 of them.
The objection challenges if 12 of the signatures belong to residents or registered voters in the district. Fourteen more signatures are in question because they’re printed, not signed.
Objectors also question the notarization of the petition.
If Augustyn is removed from the ballot, there will be an uncontested race for the three available seats on the board. Also running is William Ploger, a member of the group Arlington Heights People For Our Parks which Gelinas helped start.
The hearing will continue at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.