Arlington Heights Park Board Petition Objection Valid: 18-Year-Old Off Ballot

The election for Arlington Heights Park District Board commissioner is now uncontested, after the Cook County Clerk's office ruled in favor of objectors to nominating petitions filed by 18-year-old Buffalo Grove High School student Jona Augustyn, the Daily Herald reports.

The objections were filed by Arlington Heights Park District Board President Maryfran Leno, Commissioner Myles Naughton and resident Tim Gelinas. 

Irregularities cited in the objections pointed out where voters printed their names instead of signing them as required by the Cook County Clerk, and signatures of people who were not registered voters.

Paper work filed by the objectors ultimately disqualified Augustyn.

The number of required valid signatures is 126, and with the signatures that were thrown out, Augustyn was left with 103 valid signatures, according to paperwork filed with the Electoral Board.

Now, three candidates will vie for three open spots on the park district board. 

They include Gelinas, who was the chairman of People For Our Parks, the group formed to help promote and pass the $39 million park district referendum which failed in November, 2012. 

William Ploger, another member of the group that supported the $39 million referendum, will also be on the ballot for an open spot on the Arlington Heights park board.

Park Board President, Maryfran Leno is the only incumbent in the race.

Park Commissioners Robert Whisler and Robert Smith did not seek to be reelected.

Terms for Vice-President Myles Naughton and Commissioner Robert Nesvacil are up in 2015.