THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Danville City Council Ward 1 Alderman candidate Jaleel Jones, left, at the election petition objection hearing, with objector Ward 7 Alderman Darren York.
DANVILLE — The Danville Election Commission heard evidence on both sides of the case Friday afternoon on Danville City Council Ward 7 Alderman Darren York’s request to remove a city council Ward 1 alderman candidate from the April 2025 ballot.
The commission will take up to five working days to make a decision. It will notify all parties.
York filed an objection to Ward 1 Alderman candidate Jaleel M. Jones’ election nomination papers as being insufficient and incomplete due to not being fully filled out correctly according to state statute and the law. He said Jones’ statement of candidacy didn’t have Ward 1 alderman, only alderman, listed on the paperwork. Also, petition sheets 1-5 don’t have Ward 1 alderman listed. Jones is running against incumbent Ward 1 Alderman Robert Williams.
Jones, who is a victim of gun violence and whose brother was killed as a result, said being a young African American male, he wanted to run for alderman to make a difference.
“I’m trying to grow in my city and make my city better,” he said.
York said he doesn’t know Jones, but he objected to Jones’ petitions because he’s “had the privilege of sitting with Alderman Robert Williams, who’s the current Ward 1 alderman, on the city council. At this point, I’ve been with him on the city council for almost four years. And I know he’s a man of integrity, and I believe he has the ability and the skills to contribute to the city council.”
York said he was excited to see Jones run and encourages him to continue to run, but he also said Williams adds value to the city council.
Commission Chairman Thomas Mellen said basically, York is seeking to have Williams run uncontested by knocking out his competition. York agreed.
Mellen asked if anyone else motivated York to object to Jones’ petition. York said he consulted with Williams and others. Mellon asked if Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. was one of the others he consulted, but York told him “no comment.”
Jones’ attorney, Molly Gregory, told the commission York doesn’t have standing as an objector. He doesn’t live in Ward 1 nor have interest in removing Jones from the ballot. She said according to state statute, any legal voter of a district is an appropriate objector. Gregory also said she hasn’t found case law or statute specifically saying “alderman” is not an appropriate office to list on a petition and that it must be specific to the ward.
Danville Election Commission Attorney John Beardsley asked if either side had any specific case law dealing with substantial and strict compliance on election petitions.
Resident Deonte Brooks said he did, saying the Illinois Supreme Court has stated all discretionary provisions do not automatically invalidate a candidate’s petition if the error is technical and doesn’t compromise the statute’s essential purpose. Brooks said people know Jones is running in Ward 1.
“This is detrimental to everything that we do and what we represent. The leaders of our community, we need to be helping this young man and not put stumbling blocks in his way,” Brooks said.
Local NAACP President Ed Butler also was on hand at the hearing. Brooks said if someone wants to step up and run for alderman, don’t suppress them or hold them back.
Butler said he was present at the hearing to ensure all people are represented without any hatred or racial discrimination.
The commission said they’ll look at case law regarding the issues.
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