Elections and Paperclips: The Unethical Behavior of Kicking Candidates off the Ballot

There are many avenues to attempt to kick candidates off the ballot. Some are more egregious than others. This year there have been at least 2 cases of paperclips that have been used as excuses to attempt to kick candidates off the ballot. The 2 cases though have ended with different results.

Glenn Garamoni, running for Fremont Township Supervisor, used a paperclip to attach his documents together. The election board in Fremont left Glenn on the ballot since the intent was clear.

The second case did not end in the same result. Glennview School District 34 Election Board chose to disqualify Glenn Farkas at a hearing on Jan. 24, ruling his application was not securely bound. The election board members are School Board members Julie Shechtman (chairwoman) and Sue Ellen Bohac Galligan, and Board Secretary Dawn Scaramuzza.

This case has garnered further scrutiny with Caucus member Mike Cherry forwarding an email [see below] to the Glenview Lantern. The email shows that Board Member and Caucus endorsed candidate Jack Murphy wrote the challenges to Farkas, Fiebig and Byrne. Fiebig and Byrne withdrew from the race during the challlenge.

“I am disturbed, I have no doubt that other Glenview parents are too, that at least one District 34 School Board member, Jack Murphy, conspired with members of the Glenview Caucus to keep me off of the ballot for School Board elections in April, especially since that conduct violates the most fundamental principles of the School Board. The alleged conduct here risks disenfranchising Glenview voters and undermines thepublic’s trust in the School Board.” ~ Glenn Farkas

District 34 School Board Member Code of Conduct:

I will avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety which could result from my position, and will not use my Board membership for personal gain or publicity.

I will take no private action that might compromise the board or administration and will respect the confidently of privileged information.”

Even with the apparent unethical tactics and conflict of interests of school board member Jack Murphy, Farkas has chosen to continue the fight as a write-in candidate on April 9. More people have to stand up to this type of behavior like Glenn Farkas and Mike Cherry have done.

Emails shown below with email addresses partially redacted.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: michaelcherry
Date: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 4:24 PM
Subject: Re: paper clip versus staple ? Re: D34 Caucus Objections-Need Help!
To: …@glenviewlantern.com
Cc: michaelcherry…

AlexI release the two emails listed below to the Glenview Lantern- -Michael S. Cherry 1/28/2013
Please call me at 847-xxx-xxx to confirm receipt

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From: michaelcherry…
To: mrussis@…
Cc: “Jack Murphy” <jmurphy@…>
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 6:47:16 PM
Subject: paper clip versus staple ?     Re: D34 Caucus Objections-Need Help!

Hi Martha:

Had hoped to speak directly with you as I had to Jack but I know you are busy. Jack said it was the difference between a paper clip and a staple and this had actually been litigated regarding “bound securely”  requirement.

This is silly  in my view and not worthy of  our time nor money.

My opinion is do not object on these disingenuous grounds

Mike

 

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From: mrussis@…
To: cindywilkas…, “lindsay barrett” <lindsay.barrett@…>, “b isaac” <b.isaac@…>,merleshein@…, thesullys…, hbuehler@…, ga2t@…, fuhler@…, clwitz@…, marykfrese@…, sunilharjani@…, pmwestfall@…, jpetrungaro@…, michaelcherry…, kkachmarik@…, psydball@…, janetplnit1@…, kt8123@…
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2012 10:14:08 AM
Subject: D34 Caucus Objections-Need Help!

Hello Friends!

Jack Murphy — as if he does not have enough to do — is drawing up the objections to present to D34 challenging the petitions of Mark Byrne, Glenn Farkas, and Jennifer Fiebig.

 Our objections are really, really solid!  Talking with Jack, Scott Uhler, and Jim Nally, an attorney specializing in election law, they all say that not binding the petitions will kill their candidacies.  That is our No. 1 objection, and others will be listed as well.

I will sign as an objector, and so will Kevin Ball (thank you so much Kevin).  I would like to have a few more objectors because I don’t think this should fall on 1-2 people. I am asking if anyone else would be willing to be an objector in the legal papers we will be giving to D34.  These papers will be submitted Jan.  4.  The way these objection statements are written, individual residents of the district must sign as objector.  The Caucus cannot sign as a group as the objector.

As an objector you will need to:

1) Sign and notarize the papers.  We’ve got plenty of notaries.  You will get a chance to review the papers before signing to make sure you are comfortable with what they state as objections.

.

2) Pop in the admin. office and “observe” that the original papers are not bound.  This will take five minutes, but needs to be done this week. When you go to inspect petitions, you go in and sign a form to do so, and we need this on record.

3) Appear and “testify” at the hearing that you are the objector on the grounds stated in the petition.  This is a hearing before three school board members who are not running.  It is not a “formal” court of law like Skokie court, but this is a legal proceding. The hearing will take place quickly after the petition papers are filed, the district is just waiting to receive our papers to get the process in motion and set a date. The hearing will most likely take place by mid January at the admin. office.

You should also know that it is possible your name will appear in the newspapers as the objectors. However, I don’t know this for sure.

Please let me know asap if you can do this. I need to know in the next few days.  And please keep this quiet so opponents don’t find out what we are doing and submit objections for our candidates.

With appreciation,

Martha