Campton president candidate off ballot

A Campton Hills man who promised to help disband the town if elected village president was booted off the ballot Monday for flaws on his election paperwork.

The decision was made by the village electoral board, which said Robert Young was not a registered voter Nov. 7 when he signed a sworn statement of candidacy affirming he was qualified to hold office. In fact, he didn't register until 11 days later.

The board also deemed invalid 10 signatures on one page of Young's nominating paperwork because one of his supporters, Susan Secondi, both signed and notarized his nominating papers, amounting to a conflict of interest under the Illinois Notary Public Act.

"It's unfortunate that the board arrived at the conclusion it did," said Young, who plans to appeal the decision in Kane County Circuit Court and is now considering a write-in campaign.

Also Monday, the board invalidated several signatures on nominating petitions for village clerk hopeful Carolyn Higgins, but enough remained to keep her on the Feb. 5 ballot. The invalidated signatures were on a page both signed and notarized by Elizabeth Baldwin.

Young and Higgins each requested having Kane County Conservative Coalition President Jon Zahm speak for them during Monday's hearing. But the board would not allow Zahm, who has experience with election objections, to participate because he is not an attorney.

"This was, frankly, a sham," said Zahm, who says he has represented other candidates in similar hearings.

Both Young and Higgins have campaigned under an eight-person slate that promises to dissolve the village if elected.

Young's removal from the race means Village President Patsy Smith, who voluntarily stayed out of Monday's hearing, will be unopposed.

Objections to Young's and Higgins' paperwork were filed by Campton Hills residents Ed Fiala and Vincent Schuster, respectively.

The board did not find merit to Schuster's claim that Higgins should be removed from the ballot because she listed her place of residence as "unincorporated St. Charles," the appropriate postal title, instead of Campton Hills. It also did not make an issue of Young listing himself as a candidate of "nomination," rather than "election," which Fiala claimed would lead to "voter confusion."

After the decisions, village trustee and electoral board member Charles Cappell said Young and Higgins deserved leeway for being first-time candidates, while still being held accountable.

"These rules are not very complex," Cappell said. "With a little advice, most folks can follow them."