Prairie State Wire

Illinois State Board of Elections met Oct. 30.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

PRESENT:

Casandra B. Watson, Chair

Laura K. Donahue, Vice Chair

Jennifer M. Ballard Croft, Member

Tonya L. Genovese, Member

Catherine S. McCrory, Member

Rick S. Terven, Sr., Member

Jack Vrett, Member

ABSENT:

Cristina D. Cray, Member

ALSO PRESENT:

Bernadette M. Matthews, Executive Director

Jeremy Kirk, Assistant Executive Director

Marni M. Malowitz, General Counsel

Amy L. Calvin, Executive Administrative Assistant

The meeting convened at 10:00 a.m. via videoconference with seven Members present. Vice Chair Donahue and Members Genovese and Terven were present in the Springfield office, and Members Ballard Croft and McCrory were present in the Chicago office. Chair Watson and Member Vrett were present via Zoom videoconference. Member Cray was absent and Vice Chair Donahue held her proxy.

Chair Watson opened the meeting by leading everyone in the pledge of allegiance. Ms. Malowitz presented and reviewed the following settlement offer for agenda item 1.a.0.

0) SBE v. Friends of Mark Stephens, 7465, 23AS009. Ms. Malowitz recommended the offer be rejected because the amount offered was below the 50% threshold and did not comport with the settlement guidelines. John Fogarty was present on behalf of the committee and said the error was an honest mistake made during a death in the family. Mr. Fogarty then offered a revised settlement of $5,000. Vice Chair Donahue moved to accept the revised settlement offer, which was seconded by Member Terven and passed by roll call vote of 8-0.

Vice Chair Donahue moved to recess to executive session to consider complaints following closed preliminary hearing pursuant to Section 9-21 of the Election Code, 10 ILCS 5/9-21, and Section 2(c)(4) of the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(4). Member Genovese seconded the motion, which passed by roll call vote of 8-0. The meeting recessed at 10:10 a.m. and reconvened at 10:46 a.m. with the same attendance noted in the initial roll call.

As to agenda item 1.a.1) Stava-Murray v. Porter, 24CD013, Vice Chair Donahue moved to dismiss the complaint for want of prosecution. Member Vrett seconded the motion, which passed by roll call vote of 8-0.

As to agenda item 1.a.2) Bambenek v. Summers, 24CD014, Member McCrory moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction. Member Vrett seconded the motion, which passed by roll call vote of 8-0.

As to agenda item 1.a.3) Costello v. Taylor, 24CD016, Member Vrett moved to adopt the recommendation of the hearing officer as modified by the general counsel. Complainant’s allegations of violations of Section 9-3 of the Election Code for failure to file a statement of organization and Section 9-10(b) for failure to file quarterly reports were filed on justifiable grounds and are referred to the division of campaign disclosure for assessment of fines. To the extent complainant alleges a violation of a subsection of Section 9-10 other than subsection (b), that claim was not filed on justifiable grounds and should be dismissed. Complainant’s allegations of violations of Section 9-9.5 for failure to include attribution of source language on campaign materials was filed on justifiable grounds and is referred to a public hearing, except with respect to respondents’ billboards, mailer, and business card, which either contained the required attribution of source language or were not campaign materials, and therefore, the claim was not filed on justifiable grounds. Member McCrory seconded the motion, which passed by roll call vote of 8-0.

With there being no further business before the Board, Vice Chair Donahue moved to adjourn until Tuesday, November 19, 2024. Member Ballard Croft seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting ended at 10:55 a.m.

https://www.elections.il.gov/AboutTheBoard/MeetingMinutesAll.aspx