Objections filed in Gail Borden library race

Objections have been filed against three of the five candidates running for seats on the Gail Borden Public Library District board in Elgin, including an incumbent who is mostly barred from using the library.

Elgin resident Herbert Gross filed objections to the nominating papers submitted by incumbent Randy Hopp, who's banned from the library as a patron and faces felony charges of attacking his elderly parents.

Gross claims that Hopp used his nickname “Randy,” rather than his legal name “Randolph Lee,” in an attempt to confuse voters when seeking signatures on his nominating papers.

“My assumption is that he did that to distance himself from the fact that he's had such bad publicity,” Gross said.

Hopp did not respond to a request for comment. He was elected to the board in 2009, and later banned from the library — except for board meetings — after staff complained of harassing behavior. The library board voted in December to continue the ban.

Thursday was the last day to file objections. Three, four-year seats on the library board are open in April.

Elgin resident Hal Cattron filed objections against newcomers Elizabeth Kruger and Carlos Betancourt, saying both candidates filed a certain document — a validated receipt from the Kane County Clerk's office for the filing of their statement of economic interest — too late.

Cattron said both Kruger and Betancourt filed their receipts Dec. 28, two days after the end of the filing period Dec. 26.

Also, Cattron claimed that Betancourt didn't provide the required number of signatures in support of his candidacy, and didn't number properly all the pages of his petition.

Kruger wasn't immediately available for comment.

Betancourt admitted he filed the receipt too late. “I'm really excited about trying this and getting into something new for me. It's something this small, and I forgot to do it right away,” he said.

However, Betancourt said he submitted the required amount of signatures in support of his candidacy.

Kane County officials weren't immediately available to answer questions about how many signatures are required on library trustee petitions, and when an electoral board hearing will be held about the objections.

Incumbent Susan Moylan and newcomer Patricia Harkin also filed nominating papers. Trustee Penny Wegman is not running for re-election.