Politics & Government
Democrats Removed from Will County Board Ballot
Eight candidates, including Reed Bible and Irene Garcia-Wittke of Plainfield, were booted after electoral board decision Tuesday.
Eight Democratic Will County Board candidates were removed from the November election ballot Tuesday, thanks to a 2-1 decision from the Will County Electoral Board.
Will County Democrats Chairman Scott Pyles said several objections were filed against Democratic candidates, alleging that precinct committeemen weren’t given adequate notice of meetings at which ballot vacancies were filled.
“[The electoral board’s] decision is contrary to the evidence presented at the hearing,” Pyles said of Tuesday’s events.
Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“There’s not going to be any choices for voters on election day if the decision stands,” Pyles added, saying he plans to file appeals.
“I’m hoping to have them on file by the end of the day,” Pyles said Wednesday.
Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Candidates who were removed include Democrats Reed Bible and Irene Garcia-Wittke.
“I don’t really want to speak for [the candidates]. I think that people are disappointed in the electoral board’s decision and eager to be vindicated,” Pyles said.
Will County Republicans Chairman Ed Ronkowski could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.
“I would love to keep them all on the ballot, but the law doesn’t allow me to,” Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots told the Herald-News. Voots and Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Tatroe voted to boot the candidates from the ballot, while Will County Circuit Clerk Pam McGuire, a Democrat who is also seeking reelection in November, voted against removing them.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.