Arlington Heights Resident Challenges Petition for Term Limits

An Arlington Heights Election Board hearing will be held Monday, January 14 at Arlington Heights Village Hall to consider an objection to the petition filed to have a referendum that would create term limits for the village board. 

Thomas Krausmann filed the objection to the petition submitted recently by resident Bill Gnech.

According to Arlington Heights Village Clerk, Becky Hume, Krausmann cited three issues in his objection.

They include 1) that the proposed referendum is not in the form of a question, 2) that it does not spell out whether the term limits apply to the person or the office, and 3) that there is no effective date, or clarification on whether it would be retroactive to current board members. 

Mayor Arlene Mulder, Trustee Thomas Hayes and Hume will make up the election board reviewing the petition, and both Krausmann and Gnech are expected to be in attendance, Hume said. 

Krausmann will be allowed to voice his concerns, and Gnech being allowed to answer the questions raised.

The hearing is open to the public, and Hume said a decision will be made at that time on whether or not the referendum question will make it onto the ballot. 

According to Ken Menzel, deputy general counsel for the Illinois State Board of Elections, whatever happens during Monday's meeting, the case can still move forward for additional review and consideration by the circuit court, appellate court and even the Illinois Supreme Court. 

And, if a second, third or fourth ruling is sought, it could definitely be decided in time for the question to make it onto the April 9 election ballot. 

"Courts expedite election cases very rapidly," Menzel said. "This is one of the few cases the courts can't push back."

The deadline to file election petitions, such as Gnech's, was January 7.

The hearing will be held on Monday, at 9:30 a.m. in the village board room at the Arlington Heights Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road.