Story posted Friday, February 5, 2010
Voters Speak Loudly In Favor Of Election System
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
Mt. Prospect residents Tuesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of the village having its own election system beginning in April 2011.
On Tuesday's primary ballot, a referendum asked Mt. Prospect residents whether the village should continue its non-partisan system of electing its mayor and trustees, require no primary election, and require the total number of nominating signatures needed to be placed on the ballot to equal at least 1% of the number of registered voters in the village.
Voters Tuesday voted 5,059 (73.89%) in favor of that system compared to 1,788 (26.11%) who were opposed.
With residents voting in favor of their own system, elections at the village-level will remain non-partisan and will eliminate the need for primary elections. Also, the number of signatures required for ballot eligibility will be 1% of registered voters in the village. Based on 2009 voter registration data, that will total approximately 300 signatures.
"I don't know if I am upset or disappointed," said Trustee Steven Polit, who voted late last year against having a referendum question put on the ballot. "I guess residents really wanted an election system to benefit the incumbent. You could theoretically have eight people run for mayor and the person elected could get 10%-12% of the total votes. That is ludicrous. There has to be a primary election."
Polit added the local government should have not worded this referendum,
"If people were upset about the last election system, they should have objected to it and brought it to the forefront themselves," said Polit.
"I am absolutely happy with the way it turned out," said Trustee Paul Hoefert. "It is very clear that people want to maintain the system we have had for many years that requires no primary and that has worked well."
Mt. Prospect Mayor Irvana Wilks said she pushed to place the question on the ballot because voters should decide their own election rules.
"Our past system has served us for decades," said Wilks. "In addition, allowing our village clerk to provide petitions gives us local control and removes us from the whims of the State Board of Elections. This decides government and those things should automatically go to the voters."
According to Wilks, Village Clerk Lisa Angell will now consult with Village Attorney Buzz Hill and begin to design and write petitions for the next local election in April 2011.
With this process now allowing as many people to run for trustee or mayor, Polit is encouraging everyone to take petitions and he also challenges voters to come out in mass in April 2011.
"Instead of approximately 16% of voters coming out, let's get 35%," added Polit.
The village followed a new election model enacted by the State Board of Elections in last April's municipal election. Prior to that, elections took place under the village's own system with similar components to what will occur in the future.
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