This is the first of two Sun Day reports on a leadership controversy in Rutland Township, which is located in Kane County. Nearly two-thirds of Sun City (the southern section) is located in Rutland, which is one of 16 townships in the county.
Yesterday, January 25, was a significant day in this township’s recent life. At a Kane County courtroom in Geneva, a hearing was held that day to determine if current township supervisor Margaret Sanders will have her name on the April 4 ballot.
Results of the hearing will be published in the Sun Day on February 8, along with the story of how negative events and controversy have combined in recent months to bring the township leadership to this point.
Sanders, who is a resident of Neighborhood 3 in Sun City, has served two four-year terms as supervisor and trustee board chairman. She is seeking a third term. On December 30, a three-person township electoral board voted 2-1 to remove her name from the ballot. Two of the three electoral board members (who are also her fellow trustees) voted against her because they said she improperly tampered with her nominating petition documents after she submitted them to the township clerk in December. These two trustees are Steve Schuldt and John Payson. The third electoral board member, who supported Ms. Sanders, is Gordon Mueller, a township resident.
Sanders, another township official, and some residents say the township board has broken up into factions and there is considerable acrimony and friction at township meetings and among elected leaders.
The formal objection to Sanders’ candidacy was brought on December 30 by Richard Stack, a Sun City resident and a township registered voter. He charged in a written complaint that Sanders tampered with her petition package after submitting it to the township clerk. He contends this is a violation of State of Illinois Election Commission rules. Sanders denies this, and contends the objection is politically motivated.
Sanders was one of two candidates for supervisor on the initial April 4 ballot. The other is Elden Brauer, a resident of Sun City’s Neighborhood 32.
