City to File Suit Against Former Candidate, Election Commission Over Write-in Candidacy

The City of Wheaton asks courts to confirm Frank Garcia is ineligible to run for City Council as a write-in candidate after he was removed from the ballot last month.

The City of Wheaton today will file a lawsuit against the DuPage County Election Commission and former At-Large City Council candidate Frank Garcia, asking that Garcia be deemed ineligible to run for Council as a write-in candidate after the city's decision to remove him from the spring election ballot. Wheaton's municipal electoral board ruled last month that Garcia was ineligible to run for City Council because he was not a registered voter in the city of Wheaton when he filed Dec. 26 and therefore not considered a Wheaton resident. The decision came after candidate John Prendiville filed an objection against Garcia because of his voter registration status and residency.   Following the city's decision, Garcia filed with the DuPage …

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Mark Stern

8:59 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013

What the law says is that a registered voter can challenge a candidate, which is what happened before - remember, the City of Wheaton did not sue to get Mr. Garcia kicked off the ballot. It does not say that a municipality can use tax money to sue people who "might" get elected as write-in candidates. If Mr. Pruitt is a registered voter and does not think Mr. Garcia is eligible, he should file an…   more ›

DuPage Election Commission Keeps PR Firm

The DuPage Election Commission will continue to employ PR firm Reverse Spin, and could approve a one year, $36,000 contract to take effect Dec. 1, the Daily Herald reports.

DuPage Election Commission Questions Need for PR Firm

The commission's director will provide a memo regarding the commission's need to employ a public relations firm Aug. 2.

New members of the DuPage Board of Election Commissioners last week questioned the need to employ Reverse Spin, a public relations firm their predecessors hired, the Daily Herald reported Sunday. Reverse Spin Principal Dan Curry said the firm is working on a "month-to-month" basis under the terms of its former contract. The company receives $3,000 a month from the commission, according to the Herald. Keep up with local news by following Wheaton Patch on Facebook and signing up for our free daily newsletter. "The commission let a lot of contracts expire because they knew certain board members were going to be replaced," Curry said. Commission staff is now proposing a $36,000 professional services contract for Reverse Spin. Following reports…

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Carol B Davis

9:31 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012

I am a resident, voter and tax payer in DuPage County not in Cook County.   more ›

Chris Hage Appointed to DuPage Election Commission

Wheaton attorney Christopher Hage fills vacancy on the three-member DuPage Election Commission.

A Wheaton attorney has been appointed to fill the final vacancy on the three-member DuPage Election Commission. DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin selected Christopher Hage to complete the remaining term of former Election Commission Chairman Rick Carney, who stepped down in May.   “I pledged to bring a professional approach to the Election Commission and Chris Hage possesses the experience and work ethic needed to oversee this key public agency,” Cronin said. “As we approach a critical national election this fall, I feel confident that the new leadership team we have installed at the Election Commission will work in an open, ethical manner that reflects the best interest of DuPage County voters.”   Hage is an attorney with the firm …

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DuPage Election Commission Cancels Credit Cards

DuPage Election Commission officials cancel staff credit cards after a county report's suggestion the agency needs to improve its credit card policies, the Daily Herald reports.

DuPage Election Commission Chairman Resigns

DuPage County Election Commission Chairman Rick Carney resigns at the request of County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, following a report that concluded the commission practiced poor ethics and procurement procedures.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin today accepted the resignation of DuPage Election Commission Chairman J.P. “Rick” Carney. Carney proffered his resignation was over the weekend, according to a press release from DuPage County. Cronin and a majority of the County Board members requested Carney step down after a report concluded the Commission had poor procurement and ethics practices, according to the release. “I appreciate Rick stepping aside to allow us to start anew with fresh leadership at the Election Commission,” Cronin said in a statement. “We appreciate his service and wish him well in the future.” Carney has served as chairman of the Commission since 2006 and his term ends in January 2013. Through state statute, Cronin …

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DuPage County Chair Names 2 New Election Commissioners

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin appointed Cathy Terrill and Art Ludwig to the DuPage County Election Commission after report suggested improvements in commission's ethics and procurement practices.

The following is an Apr. 25 press release from DuPage County: Today DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin called for new leadership of the DuPage Election Commission.   Prompted by yesterday’s assessment report that revealed the Commission’s poor procurement and ethics practices, Cronin appointed Cathy Ficker Terrill of Elmhurst and Art Ludwig of West Chicago to serve on the three-member panel.   “The DuPage Election Commission’s stress test raised a number of alarming issues that require immediate attention. I am concerned that several of the internal practices at the Commission fall short of basic good government principles that should be exercised at any public entity,” said Cronin.   Both Ficker Terrill and Ludwig are filling the …

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Report: DuPage Election Commission Needs to Improve Credit Card, Ethics and Procurement Procedures

DuPage Election Commission needs to make "significant improvements" to its internal control procedures regarding credit cards, ethics and procurement, according to results of a DuPage County "stress test."

The following is a press release from DuPage County: “Today’s findings represent the first time that the public has had an opportunity to assess the day-to-day operations and policies of the Election Commission,” said Cronin. “The report shows that the Election Commission is another prime example of why we initiated these ‘stress tests’ in an effort to identify problems that need to be resolved.”   The “stress test” raises questions about how the Election Commission awards contracts, administers appropriate ethics policies and uses taxpayer-funded credit cards.   The results of the “stress test” show that the Election Commission “needs to make significant improvements to its internal control procedures and practices” regarding credit cards…

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