SAUK VILLAGE | The Consolidated School District 168 Election Board will determine the validity of a board member’s petition without involvement of Cook County.
That decision was made Saturday morning during a formal public hearing regarding an objection filed against the petition of Iesha El-Admin, who is running for school board member on the April 9 ballot. El-Admin is currently an appointed board member. She was appointed to take the place of Angela Cox, who resigned last year.
The objection was filed by Judy Cast, a resident of Sauk Village.
Cast did not attend the hearing on Saturday morning, and did not have legal representation present.
Cast’s objection centered around 22 signatures on El-Admin’s petition. The 22 signatures were printed, as opposed to written. The objection was raised regarding the validity of a printed signature.
Neal Smith, the election board attorney, told the election board that they could ask Cook County to conduct a signature check if they felt that was needed. He did advise the board that past precedent has allowed for printed signatures on petitions.
Based on the fact that past precedent had allowed printed signatures, and the fact that El-Admin’s petition would still have enough valid signatures, the board unanimously took Smith’s advisement and declined to contact the county regarding a signature check.
El-Admin then addressed the board and asked them to rule in her favor and validate her petition.
“I was given a specific set of instructions to follow when I picked up my petition,” El-Admin told the board. “I followed those instructions to the letter. Everything in my petition is by the book. Based on that, I ask you to validate my petition and place me on the April 9 ballot.”
The board unanimously agreed to render a decision on her request and issue a written statement on Jan. 25. A public meeting will be scheduled for 6 p.m. that evening at the district administrative building.
The election board is made up of School Board president Mary Howard, board secretary Sharon Archie-Davenport, and senior board member Maxine Towers. They will work with Smith to comprise a written statement on the objection and El-Admin’s request.
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