Not a 'politics as usual' decision

Huntley resident Jim Darrow's recent letter headlined "Rutland politics prevails" is wrong on several counts and lacks specifics regarding the Rutland Township Election Commission removing Margaret Sanders from the upcoming election ballot.

Darrow said the commission's decision was based on "politics as usual" and that township trustees had me, the petitioner, file the complaint against Mrs. Sanders. This is not true. I filed the complaint because this is the most recent and egregious issue I have with how she conducts the township's business. Further, Mr. Darrow failed to mention the following facts brought out at the hearing.

On Jan. 9, Mrs. Sanders submitted her bound petition to the township clerk. The two-hole punched package, including her Statement of Economic Interest, was inventoried and stamped by the assistant clerk. The clerk then placed the package on a table with other petitions and provided Mrs. Sanders a signed receipt. Later that morning, Sanders came forward with her two-hole punched Statement of Economic Interest and asked that it be inserted in her package. The Assistant Clerk refused to do so because, according to Illinois Election Law, a "petition once filed may not be withdrawn or altered." This was observed by both clerks and another witness.

When asked to explain her actions, Mrs. Sanders said she found the Statement of Economic Interest in the backroom and thought it might have fallen from her package. The Commissioners concluded the sequence of events showed this was not the case and Mrs. Sanders had tampered with her previously-submitted package. As a result, they voted to remove her from the ballot.

There was not a "politics as usual" decision. Mrs. Sanders violated a clear election rule and the Commission simply followed the law.

Richard Stack

Huntley