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WGLT is committed to helping you become an informed voter ahead of the April 6 local election.

2 Normal Township Candidates Removed From Ballot

Vote sign
Ken Chui
A judge has ruled two candidates in Normal Township did not properly file paperwork to run in the April municipal election.

A McLean County judge has removed from the ballot two Republican candidates in Normal Township races in the spring municipal election.Judge Paul Lawrence on Thursday overturned the Normal Township Election Board’s earlier decision to allow Amy Conklin’s name to appear on the ballot in her bid for Normal Township supervisor. The judge also agreed to remove Ray Ropp from the ballot in his re-election bid as a township trustee after the election board upheld his candidacy.

According to McLean County court records, Conklin’s opponent, incumbent township supervisor Sarah Grammar, objected to Conklin’s nominating petitions. John Whalen, vice chair of the McLean County Democrats, challenged Ropp’s petitions in the April 6 election.

Grammer was elected township supervisor in 2017 and is seeking a second term. She and Whalen filed their objections because Conklin and Ropp did not properly file statements of economic interest before the filing deadline.

Illinois Election Code requires candidates for township races to file with the township a receipt from the county clerk’s office indicating the statements have been filed.

“There are no exemptions or exceptions to filing the receipt, and there are no alternatives allowed for filing the receipt,” Lawrence said in the ruling.

Conklin was elected township clerk in 2017. Ropp has served four terms on the township board.

Grammer said the ruling shows all candidates are on a level playing field.

“I have worked this job for four years and a lot of it is deadlines and filings, so if you don’t file your paperwork properly to be on the ballot, that to me makes me nervous about your ability to then perform the duties of the job,” Grammer said.

Ropp said he has filed statements of economic interest with the McLean County clerk's office in the past, but he said he hadn't filed it with the township office in the past. He said he didn't believe it was necessary. 

"I think it's kind of funny why that is so important when it is inconsequential and never ever seen again," Ropp said. "That was the ruling and we have to live with it."

Ropp said he thinks the legal challenges are a sign local races have become increasingly political. 

Conklin and Ropp have since filed as a write-in candidate, according to the McLean County Clerk's office.

The judge’s ruling leaves seven candidates for four open trustee seats: incumbent Democrats Arlene Hosea, Sally Pyne and Dayna Schickendanz will be on the ballot; along with challengers Floyd Aper (R), Carl Hany (R), Art Rodriguez, (R) and Mary Whurmann (D).

The race for township clerk will be between Republican Judy Hanks and Democrat Pat Turner.

Township highway commission Arin Rader and township assessor Robert Cranston, both Republicans, are running unopposed.

Editor's note: WGLT updated this story to indicate Conklin and Ropp have both filed as write-in candidates. 

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Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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