Clockwise from left: Tom Mellen, Dave Ryan, Sandy Delhaye, and Barb Bailey
The Danville Election Commission has agreed with protests brought about by incumbents in the upcoming April of 2023 Municipal Election that a pair of challengers did not have the required number of signatures on their filing petitions.
Danville mayor Rickey Williams, Jr had claimed that challenger Jacob Lane did not have the required 225 legitimate signatures. William’s objection to Lane’s candidacy stated that seven of his 231 signatures were from individuals who lived outside the Danville City Limits, and 15 of his signatures were from individuals not registered to vote in the Danville Municipal Election.
Barb Bailey, who serves on the Danville Election Commission with Dave Ryan and Tom Mellen; stated after Wednesday afternoon’s meeting that the Commission itself cannot check the legitimacy of every signature for every candidate. But if someone takes the initiative and finds a problem, the Danville Election Commission needs to follow-up. As it turned out, the Commission agreed with Mayor Williams’ 22 total objections on the signatures. This left Lane with only 209 qualifying signatures, 16 short of what he needed. Bailey says the candidate needs to take responsibility ahead of time, in case someone double-checks their signatures.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: With the petition, when it comes in; the person who’s running for that office should go over their petition in advance to check for those very things.
This now leaves Williams with one challenger in the April Election, Vermilion Housing Authority Executive Director Jackie Vinson.
Meanwhile, Danville City Council Fifth Ward incumbent Eve Ludwig had objected to seven of challenger Jakob Dazey’s signatures. The Commission agreed; saying that two of Dazey’s signatures were from unregistered voters, two were from individuals not registered at their current addresses, and three were from individuals not registered in Ward 5. This left Dazey with 32 legitimate signatures, when he needed 34.
Danville Election Commission Executive Director Sandy Delhaye says she sent letters to Lane and Dazey via Federal Express last week, and received FedEx confirmation that both letters had been delivered. Now, they’ll have a chance to state their cases against the Commission’s vote to leave them off the ballot.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: And they’re more than welcome to come and ask any questions; bring legal representation with them. That’s entirely up to them.
Delhaye says she will contact both candidates again about their chance to speak on Wednesday, December 21st, at 1 PM.