1 tossed off ballot, 6 still running for Borden library board

One candidate was tossed off the Gail Borden Public Library election ballot while another one withdrew from the race, leaving six people running for four seats in the April election.

A Kane County electoral board on Thursday ruled in favor of an objection filed against candidate Bonifacio Mondragon of Elgin, who didn't properly file an economic interest statement.

The objection was filed by candidate Randy Hopp of Elgin, a former trustee once banned from the library. Hopp filed the same objection against candidate Tiffany Henderson of South Elgin, who withdrew.

The board ruled in favor of candidates Jean Bednar, Carlos Chavez and Herbert Gross, who will stay on the ballot. All three are incumbents and live in Elgin. Also running in the April 7 election are Donna Kline and former board member Penny Wegman.

Mondragon said he filed the statement with the library, but not with Kane County.

"(Hopp) is using everything that he can to stop other people from running," he said, adding he plans to run in two years. "The bottom line is, I don't think it's the best thing for the community."

Hopp claimed that Chavez and Gross failed to properly number their petition sheets, while he claimed Bednar didn't have enough valid signatures. Election law requires a minimum of 50 signatures.

"The board ruled that the petition as it stands substantially meets the letter of the law," Bednar said. "I'm happy. I really enjoyed serving the library for almost 10 years now ... I think it's a great entity and I want to continue that on into the future."

Bednar, Gross and Chavez were represented by attorney Daniel Bolin of Chicago, whom they paid out of their own funds, Bednar said.

"The process was intimidating," Chavez said. "I just wanted to serve my community and this clerical mistake put me at risk to not be on the ballot. I thought it was ridiculous."

Gross said he was fairly sure he'd survive the challenge.

"His objection was rather frivolous," he said. "I'd say that it cost the taxpayers the salaries of at least five Kane County officials plus it inconvenienced a bunch of other people."

Hopp and Henderson didn't return requests for comment.

Hopp must check in with security to enter the main library and has no access to the Rakow branch. He was banned from all library property for nearly four years, other than for board meetings, after staff members complained of harassing behavior.

He also was charged with hitting his father in 2011. The charges were later dismissed.

• Daily Herald reporter Susan Sarkauskas contributed to this story.