A ballot vacancy for the Green Garden Township election on April 1 has sparked a kerfuffle among the Republicans there.
Green Garden Township Trustee Bill Wagner says the empty spot was supposed to have been filled by now. But Belinda Olszewski, chairperson for the township GOP Caucus, disagrees.
Wagner was not slated for another term when the GOP met to caucus last December. Incumbent Ralph Dietz, along with newcomers Wesley Shepherd, Roger Bettenhausen, and Monroe M. Striggow were chosen for the four trustee slots.
Bettenhausen was removed from the ballot last month because it reportedly conflicts with his position on the Peotone School Board.
Wagner says the empty spot should have been filled by now with the name of whoever is next in the line of candidates.
“Belinda has only eight days to fill the ballot. Failing to do so will allow the next newly elected board to hand pick their choice instead of the people’s choice based on caucus votes,” Wagner said.
Recalling the caucus on December 3, Wagner noted “the electors of Green Garden Township nominated their candidates for trustee.
“Each candidate was given only one minute to introduce themselves,” he said.
“A tally vote was taken where the top four trustee nominees became candidates for the upcoming election. A vacancy recently occurred leaving an open trustee slot on the Republican ballot.
“At the Monday board meeting on February 10, Supervisor Candidate Dean Christofilos and Trustee Candidate Monroe Striggow were both aware of the vacancy,” Wagner continued.
“Yet, during their opportunity to address the room, they were far less than transparent on the topic, but not without reason. When the issue was raised, Candidate Christofilos stated resistance to filling the ballot vacancy with the next voted trustee nominee from the caucus.
“Here’s a group of individuals who, without evidence, continually accuse the township board of lack of transparency. Yet they themselves neglect to be transparent and inform the people of what’s happening.
When asked if the nominated trustees next in the tally would be selected to fill the ballot vacancy, both candidates Striggow and Christofilos yell out ‘No!’
“Now here’s a case where the electors have made their nominations and voted. Yet the candidates who continually challenge the existing board to ‘let the people decide” have decided to ignore the voice of the people.
“Illinois statute, 10 ILCS 5/7-61, 10-11, provides remedy for this situation stating any vacancy in nomination must be filled within eight days of the event creating the vacancy. Belinda Olszewski, Will County Republican Central Committee chair for Green Garden Township was asked by phone her intent to fill the vacancy, and she stated they don’t follow that.
“Refusing to fill the open ballot position in time clearly is a strategic ploy to blatantly ignore the people’s choice,” Wagner charged.
“It allows the board to hand-pick someone to fill the position and ignore the voters at the caucus. This coming from a group that claims always wanting to give the people their voice. Well here, the people did give their voice and voted in a perfectly legal forum, and are being ignored by Ms. Olszewski and the candidates.”
Wagner said “campaign propaganda” circulated by the candidates “professes community input and involvement,” as well as to “provide leaders who are willing to listen to residents.”
“Without a doubt, the community was personally present at the caucus, provided community input with their nominees, and involved by placing their votes. Apparently, the slate has decided they didn’t really mean it when they professed community input and involvement.
“The propaganda deceives the electors by not informing them the township attorney made it perfectly clear at the Annual Township Meeting that (Olszewski’s) proposed Resolution (calling for an oversight committee for the town hall renovation) was not legal.
“But apparently they feel they are above the law.
“What’s further, the resolution was voted down at the next board meeting, because it never states why they want to spend the money right now. Well, the reason to spend the money now is perfectly clear by knowing the candidates. Prior to that 2023 Annual Township Meeting where the bogus resolution was proposed, Township Supervisor Candidate Christofilos, a Managing Real Estate Broker placed his “For Sale” sign in front of Township Trustee Candidate Striggow’s office building,” Wagner continued.
“Deception by this group is nothing new. Section 1 of their campaign propaganda states current officials voted to spend $1,045,000 to renovate the town hall. That vote never happened. It was a lie to deceive the public.
“As a side note, I publicly stated that if I was the next nominee in the caucus list, the open slot should go to the one after me. I feel the next person in line, based on the number of votes at the caucus who will accept the position, should be chosen.
“I don’t know for sure who is next,” Wagner added. “Nominee Jennifer Mueller was told she and I were tied for the next slot.”
Wagner said he has appealed to Olszewski to fill the vacancy, citing Illinois election laws.
“You, as a person who continually professes to let the public decide issues, should listen to the Republican electors of Green Garden Township,” he wrote in a letter to her.
“On December 3, 2024, those electors, at the legal forum of the Green Garden Township Republican Caucus, nominated and voted for several trustees where the top four were selected as candidates for the trustee office. To deny the next nominees in the list the opportunity to be on the ballot is a clear intent to ignore community input and involvement and not listen to the residents.
“To not appoint a willing replacement from the nominees of the caucus for that ballot position within the time limit set by statute is a clear intent to deceive the public by blatantly ignoring the values for which the current slate campaigned.
“I strongly encourage you to hold faith in the Republican electors of Green Garden Township, as well as the campaign promise of the nominated slate as depicted by their campaign propaganda. Based on state statute, this action needs to be taken immediately.”
Olszewski says she still is waiting for official notification of the ballot vacancy.
“I have not been officially notified of a vacancy on the GOP ballot, but have heard it from a few people,” she said. “I did contact Will County and the State Board of Elections, and I am waiting for their answers.
“Mr. Wagner is not the next candidate,” she added. “So far, nowhere does it state the vacancy must be filled by the next candidate from the caucus.
“I have been nothing but transparent with those who have reached out to me.”