“Let the people decide”

Rick Vertichio directs Sherri Cole where to sign stating she withdrew 3 of her 5 objections.
‘Let the people decide’ was a resounding phrase heard in the packed administrative annex Monday evening, January 7. The Electoral Board, comprised of Mark Hayes (board president), Jennie Alepra (longest member serving second to Don Dorbrino), and Peyton Bernot, denied 2 objections while the other 3 objections were pulled by Sherri Cole herself. “Let the voters decide who is on the school board rather as opposed to technicalities raised, I don’t think these are fatal,” Rick Vertichio noted. The denial of the objections is subject to court review.
Bernot was chosen from a lottery to serve as the third member of the board. The State Statute says the Electoral Board is to be comprised of the board president, longest serving member, and the board secretary. But, anyone who is being objected is exempt from the board. Dave Griffel, secretary, and longest serving member Don Dobrino were both exempt due to the objections raised. Any board member that files objections would have been exempt from the Electoral Board as well.
Lawyer Rick Vertichio conducted the meeting and led discussions with his professional opinion concerning objections to William Carter’s, Don Dobrino’s, and Dave Griffel’s petition. Vertichio put in many hours of work pertaining to the Electoral Board meeting and his invoice to CUSD #7 will total upwards of $500, according to his law office. All objections were filed by Sherri Cole while board member Peyton Bernot was the only individual to request copies of all 5 petitions filed with the CUSD #7 Administration office.

Peyton Bernot noted it was his duty to make sure the board made the right decisions to avoid going to court.
School board elections are treated differently, Rick Vertichio explained. “They are so local, so parochial.” It is a small group, a small process, and is not the same process used if you are filing for State Legislature.
The first, of five, objection filed was against Dave Griffel who is seeking reelection in the Brushy Mound Township. Per Cole’s citing, a proper economic interest statement was not filed. The law requires an economic interest statement be filed with the County Clerk with any part of the petition. Artie Herron served as the designate to receive the filings and inadvertently made a copy of Griffel’s previous economic interest statement from 2011. It was an administrative error and Griffel was in line with all the necessary materials.
“We had it on file, but it wasn’t necessarily attached to the petitions. And they pointed me out to Article 10 of the Illinois Election Code. The last paragraph says the petition is not valid if the candidate on their end fails to file an economic interest statement,” Bernot read. “There is no proof it was not attached and it was clearly filed,” Vertichio responded. Vertichio went on to recommend the board deny the objection. All three board members voted to deny the objection related to Griffel’s petition.
The second and third objections were filed against Don Dobrino who is seeking reelection in the Cahokia Township. The first objection against Dobrino cited page numbers were not included on the petition and secondary, one of the signators had an address controversy. “I realize there is some authoritative action requiring pages to be numbered,” Vertichio opened. “I think that authority is nuts.” According to Vertichio, by law it does not say petitions have to be numbered. He suggested the board deny the first objection relating to the petition lacking page numbers and the board denied the first objection raised by Sherri Cole with a 2-1 vote, Bernot objecting.
A local reporter questioned why Bernot wasmaking the arguments and not Cole. “I don’t understand,” Jan Dona added. “The thing is, Peyton Bernot came prepared with documentation on her behalf.” Bernot argued he was aware he had a chance to be on the Electoral Board and he wanted the board to make the right decisions to avoid going to court. The person who has aggrieved has a chance to take this board to court, Bernot explained.
Vertichio agreed with Bernot, but went on to highlight Bernot was the only person who requested a copy of the petitions. “How come not all 5 petitions were requested and just three were,” Dona questioned. “I requested all 5 copies and I received all 5 copies of the petitions,” Bernot defended. “I did not have a chance to look at them, Sherri asked me for the petitions.”
“And Sherri, why did you ask Bernot for the petitions—,” Dona was interrupted. Mark Hayes broke the conversation by ruling the conversation was out of order. Vertichio explained the press could take up the issue up with the people aggrieved after the meeting.

Vertichio stated multiple times to let the voters decide rather than technicalities.
Vertichio continued with the objections raised against Don Dobrino’s petition. The second objection cited Carla Smith, a signator on the petition, as not a proper voter since her current address did not match up with the address on file with her voter registration card. “If the election would come today, the issue of where Carla could vote would be an issue,” Vertichio added. “She could vote at either one of these places by law because both are within the geographic bounds of school district #7.” Vertichio recommended denying once again, but Sherri Cole opted to withdraw her objection when she had the chance to add further comments.
The last petition objected was the petition of William (Bill) Carter who is running for reelection in the Dorchester Township. The first objection cited William Carter failed to fill in the name of who the circulator was on page 3 of the petition. “Let the people decide,” Vertichio rang once again. “It requires, the circulator sign and his signature be notarized.” Vertichio deeded the objection “not fatal” and it was clear William Carter circulated his own petition. He recommended denying the objection, but Sherri Cole withdrew the objection on her turn.
The second objection raised against Carter’s petitions was the failure to fill out the top of the form on each page of the petition. The top of the form states the people signing the petition are aware who is running for what office. “The issue is, did the people signing it know what office Carter was seeking,” Vertichio questioned. “Voters are presumed to know what they are doing.” For the final objection, Sherri Cole once again withdrew her objection.
Being guided by “Let the citizens decide”, the Electoral Board meeting was adjourned with all three incumbents being able to remain on the April 2013 ballot. Find out more about the upcoming April election and who to expect to see on the ballot here. Three seats are up for grabs on the school board election and five people are running.
The election will take place on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.
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