An anonymous tip led to New Lenox School District 122 board member Kathy Miller's removal from the ballot in the April election.
What's interesting is the fact that the person who filed the objection, Nikki Sanders of New Lenox, never actually went into the District Office to view the petition. Sanders said that on Jan. 2, while she was away from home, someone had put a copy of page four of the document in her mailbox. That's all it was, she said. The single page was not in an envelope. It was stuck in the mailbox.
The first thing she did was to contact individuals on th school board to discuss the document with her. Sanders said she speciffically placed calls to board members Maureen Broderick and Sue Smith. They said they could not discuss the matter, said Sanders.
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According to the D122 Election Official, only two people visited the administration center to view petitions. They were board members Maureen Broderick and Sue Smith.
Speaking about the document left anonymously, Sanders said, "I don't know who it was. It could have been anybody." She earlier characterized the method in which she first received information concerning the petitions as "a little birdie told me."
Initially, "I thought whoever left it wanted me to check for signatures," said Sanders, who in her role as Republican Committeeman for Precinct 6 in New Lenox, has filled a number of nomination petitions. After a closer examination of the document, she realized there was an error concerning the circulator of the petition, which was notorized. There were two different names—one written signature and one printed—along with a missing date.
In her objection filed on Jan. 3 at the District Office, Sanders said that Miller's nomination papers were "insufficient."
Asked what compelled her to file an objection, Sanders said she performed the task, because "I'm a fan of good government." Monday she elaborated on her statement saying, "My issue is somebody who can't even fill out an election document; that's laziness. That's not somebody I want. I want responsible people."
A second objection was filed
The petition filed by New Lenox's Tom Hottinger, who is one of nine candidates running for a seat on the D122 Board of Education was also found lacking. Broderick said she filed an objection against Hottinger's petition, citing a similar notary error and signature differentiation. However, she chose to withdraw the objection because he had an excess of voter signatures. Even if the page were pulled, it wouldn't affect the outcome. Hottinger was later notified of the objection. Since the District's Election Official had already left for the day, contact information for Hottinger was unavailable. No telephone number is listed publicly.
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***An original version of the article incorrectly stated that Nikki Sanders contacted another member of the board.
Amanda Bowl
7:05 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
What a joke! Poor New Lenox residents!
Mildred Frackenbottom
8:55 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
If ONLY the school budget was scrutinized like this for errors or omissions.
Born Here
9:43 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Maybe Broadrick and Smith should be dismissed for their little stunt. What, not good enough to be in "your" social cling? Grow up, this isn't High school.
Susan
9:52 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
None of this is new~~for years, this school district has only wanted on the board people the superintendant can "order around".. everything done is at Dr. Sass' "direction".
cmc
9:57 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Such a flagrant example of the nepotism and "gatekeeping" this school district uses. Whoever doesn't think the next board is already hand-picked by Wiley as it always has been needs to re-examine history. If we were going to use clerical errors as a way to prohibit people from participating in making a difference in the lives of our children I can give you documents from every teacher and administrator I've dealt with (and they are many!) with such errors in them. Nobody is perfect - and if you scrutinize close enough you're bound to find a mistake somewhere - with ALL of us. Not to say these people should not have proofed their paperwork - but - come on - errors happen. If we were going to use that judgment system the school would be void of teachers and administrators and the School Board would be sitting on their mighty perches with nobody to rule! The "found in the mailbox" - really?? Our schools are in enough of a mess.... let's allow people who might win the vote to run competitively and truly have a say in what happens here in 210 instead of finding every way possible to keep the same old hand-picked clique in place.
Ed
10:42 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Knock knock, you are talking about district when this article is about 122.
NLMom
10:31 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Had board member Miller done her homework as she expects the kids to she would not be in this situation. Putting in the bare minimum is not the kind of board member I want representing me or my children. Putting in a little extra effort goes a long way in life.
hazelgreen
2:48 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Too bad we can't vote Sass out. I've been disgusted by the board for years and how they bow down to Sass. Shameful. We need to vote for new blood ASAP.
Patricia
11:44 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I haven't lived here for long, but also moved to this area for my children's benefit due to the school districts. I have not read every single article printed on this incident. I understand there are certain rules/laws that apply to what the petition should entail. However, I was just wondering if Kathy Miller would be a positive influence on the board with our children's best interest at heart? Isn't THAT the most important question?? Just a thought.
Will County Resident
2:26 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
"However, I was just wondering if Kathy Miller would be a positive influence on the board with our children's best interest at heart?"
Let's put it this way. She's so passionate about the job, she only got 56 signatures when it requires 50, and then didn't check simple paperwork to make sure she could stay on the ballot. If she really wants to have a positive influence, it might be a good idea to pay attention.
Sally
10:57 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
You do realize, WIll County Resident, that Mrs. Miller is just that passionate about her JOBS. Board positions are voluntary, are done in addition to full time employment, and, demand a tremendous amount of time. I think Patricia hit the nail on the head by saying that Mrs. Miller's consideration of the "best interest of the children" is what is really important here.
Will County Resident
2:06 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
"Board positions are voluntary, are done in addition to full time employment, and, demand a tremendous amount of time."
And clearly someone else should be volunteering if she cannot handle filling out the simple paperwork to apply. Just because it is a volunteer position doesn't mean the citizens can't demand competence.
Serge Storms - I Follow No One
11:45 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Really the best interest of the children....or the best interest for Sass?
Marie
9:19 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The story isn't about a tip, it's about a candidate who didn't fill her paperwork out properly. The Patch should stop being a propaganda arm of the local liberal government.
Lea Bowes
7:57 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I can just picture Maureen dressed in black, in the middle of the night, sneaking to Nikki Sanders mailbox and putting the petition in her mailbox. Thats her style, that is what she does. She needs to be voted out!!!!!
NL Taxpayer
12:45 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Apparently, a huge # of NL voters disagree with you! Check it out! Many, many of us are all for the board members who choose to hold Sass accountable - to ask the "right" questions. Broderick (and Smith) have every right to question and look at the petitions - they ARE NL residents. They are obviously aware of Miller's incompetence - she is a YES vote for Sass & his Assist. Superintendent. They are both overpaid and BIG spenders.
hazelgreen
8:44 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
But it IS political when one of the board members *tips* another resident about the error, then also votes on it herself. That's when it became political and below the belt. That is just sneaky, underhanded and unbecoming of a school board member, plain and simple.
NL Taxpayer
12:49 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Hazelgreen...maybe you might want to ask yourself, is her board member duties done in the same way as her simple petition filing duty - INCOMPETENTLY?