South Elgin Electoral Board's decision doesn't hold water

A man who wanted to run for South Elgin Village Trustee recently was thrown off the April 7 ballot.

And why was that?

Was it because...

A) he didn't have enough signatures from registered voters on his nominating petitions

B) he didn't live in the village

C) he stapled his petitions together instead of using a paper clip or vice versa

D) was behind on his water bill payments when he filed his petitions.

Until recently, A, B and C were commonly cited reasons to dismiss a candidate.

But being late on your water bill?

I acknowledge that this is one of the village's rules. And it is incumbent upon village officials, especially elected public officials, to follow the law.

But a late water bill?

I've seen challenges to nominating petitions before.

You can't cut corners when getting the signatures from registered voters.

And if a candidate doesn't even live in the area, that's certainly valid.

But who knew this man's water bill was overdue? I'm going to guess that it had to be someone from the village, who obviously tipped off one of the incumbents.

So a challenge was filed. And upheld.

Come April, there will be three trustee seats up for election. And three, not four, names on the ballot.

Those on the ballot will argue that laws have to be followed.

But they also will moan about apathy and that no one gets involved in their village.

Maybe this is why.

An election should be about an exchange of ideas, not a showcase of how to shaft someone.

Ready for a fifth year: Record temperatures did little to deter people from visiting the Gail Borden Public Library on Feb. 7 for the city's fourth annual Black History Family Fest.

Library officials said 4,811 people attended the event, which featured music, displays, a speakers panel, historical dramatizations and other exhibits.

"We did almost 5,000 (people)," said Denise Raleigh, the library's marketing director, who noted the event drew more than 4,000 in 2008. "We were worried the weather was warm and people might not come out."

Crowds also found a way to get to the library that day even though the Kimball Street bridge was closed for at least 90 minutes because the train crossing arms were malfunctioning and going up and down at random times.

Ultimate product placement: For a third consecutive year, people were treated to a taste of what Brothers Soul Food has to offer at the Black History fest.

During the afternoon, hundreds if not thousands of samples in solo cups must have been handed out.

I ate some macaroni, corn and sweet potato pie. I must write that the pie was excellent.

For those of you wondering, the business is at 970 Dundee Ave., Elgin and can be reached at (847) 289-5201.