Several mistakes in an October memo outlining the process for filing nominating petitions for elected River Forest government offices caused some confusion over the weekend.
The Oct. 10 memo stated that the filing deadline was Feb. 26, rather than Jan. 26. The memo also stated that signatures totaling 5-11 percent of the 2007 vote total were required, but the correct number is 5-8 percent. The calculated vote total from 2007 election listed on the memo-1,978-was also incorrect. A total of 950 people cast votes in that election.
The mistaken memo informed potential candidates that they needed to file a minimum of 99 signatures and a maximum of 218, but the correct figures are 48 and 97. The memo did state, in bold type, that each candidate was personally responsible “for assuring that all election requirements were met.”
Village Trustee Steve Hoke, who filed Monday to run for village president, sent Village Administrator Steve Gutierrez an e-mail Saturday, pointing out that “the memo has several material errors that must be addressed immediately if we are to ensure a fair, objection-free election.”
“They’ve told people they need to file up to four times the number of signatures required by law,” Hoke said Monday, arguing that such a development placed candidates at risk of being excluded from the ballot.
Monday morning, Gutierrez and Village Attorney Lance Malina made a conference call to the Cook County Board of Elections to clarify the filing requirements. Gutierrez then spent the morning calling each candidate who had picked up nominating packets to inform them of the errors and convey corrected information.
Filing less than the minimum number of required nominating petition signatures is routinely found to be grounds for candidate disqualification. However, it would appear that filing more than the legally allowed number of signatures is generally not considered grounds for disqualification, despite the letter of the law.
Village president candidate John Rigas, who filed 225 signatures last week, said Monday he was aware of the errors, but wasn’t concerned.
“I didn’t get the [petition] packet from the village,” he said, “so I didn’t get the misinformation. I did get the umbers originally published.”
Rigas said he contacted an election lawyer, who told him to file additional signatures.
“I was told there’s nothing they could do for more signatures,” he said.
Hoke and several other candidates who filed Monday afternoon were taking no chances. They all filed the maximum 97 signatures.