Mount Prospect begins hearings on election challenge
A Mount Prospect electoral board began hearings Friday at village hall on a challenge to a slate of two candidates for village trustee in the April election.
Former Trustee Steven Polit and resident Tom Manion are objecting to the petitions of trustee candidates Terri Gens and Peggy Pissarreck. They are contending that a village ordinance requires candidates be nonpartisan and that running as a slate is no different from running under the banner of a political party.
The candidates say they are not a party, just two individuals with similar values.
The electoral board, consisting of Mayor Arlene Juracek, Trustee Paul Hoefert and Village Clerk Karen Agoranos, agreed to reconvene at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15.
The objectors were given a deadline of Monday to file briefs, while the candidates' response briefs are due 5 p.m. Thursday.
"So I have the evening to prepare for what they provided, and they have four days?" Polit asked.
"You know what the law is," electoral board attorney Tim Lapp responded. "You made the objection. Undoubtedly you have been preparing already. The law is not going to change. It is what it is."
Juracek said there will be no decision on Jan. 15, with the board meeting a third time to go over a proposed order and take final action.