Politics & Government
NL Township Knocks David Butterfield Off the April Ballot
A 3-0 vote by the New Lenox Township Electoral Board cited an insufficient number of signatures on Dave Butterfield's petition for road commissioner.
David Butterfield, who was running as an independent against New Lenox Township Road Commissioner Dennis McPartlin, was knocked off the ballot by the New Lenox Township Electoral Board.
The result of a hearing held Jan. 7 at the township office indicated that Butterfield, who has been a trustee for the Village of New Lenox since 2007, was 58 voter signatures short of the 216 minimum needed to cement a spot for the April 2013 ballot.
Hearing transcripts revealed that Butterfield, although notified by certified mail and served by the Will County Sheriff's Office, did not attend the hearing, nor did he send a representative.
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The Electoral Board was comprised of New Lenox Township Supervisor Bill McCollum, Township Clerk Annette Boyd and Township Trustee Michael Hickey. The attorney for the township was Cass Wennlund.
An objection to Butterfield's petition was filed Dec. 28 by New Lenox's John Kovatch. It noted that the petition failed to meet the minimum number of voter signatures.
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Nomination papers must contain a minimum of 5 percent and no more than 8 percent of the total number of votes cast in the last township election, which was April 2009. Hearing transcripts referred to certified election results kept by Nancy Schultz Voots, Will County Clerk. In April 2009, 4,323 voters cast ballots in the township election.
Along with the Electoral Board and the attorney, Kovatch was the only one in attendance. He provided no further testimony, referring only to the objection that he filed.
Butterfield could not be reached for comments. He did not return calls from Patch.
Ultimately, since Butterfield is off the ballot, McPartlin is running unopposed. McPartlin has served as New Lenox Township Road Commissioner for at least 16 years.
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