Proponents and opponents of a referendum seeking to eliminate the AuroraElection Commission were able to agree on one thing during a court hearing Thursday — the situation is unique. The hearing of objections to the referendum is being heard in 16th Circuit Court in Geneva, before Judge David Akemann, because it cannot be heard by the body that would normally hear nominating petition objections, the Aurora Election Commission. State election law set up a hearing before a circuit court judge on the idea that the Election Commission might be biased toward a referendum seeking its elimination. A citizens group submitted about 1,500 signatures — it needed only 1,000 — asking that the referendum be put on the March 20 primary election ballot.
Aurora residents Alex Arroyo and Gordon Leach filed objections Thursday to the referendum question. Because their objections were filed during Thursday’s hearing, Akemann set a second hearing, at 10:30 a.m. Friday, in Courtroom 320, in the Old Kane County Courthouse at 100 S. Third St., Geneva, to hear details of their complaints.
While it did not file an official complaint, the Election Commission filed as a “friend of the court” to give the judge information it says bears on the situation. Election Commission attorney Patrick Bond said the information is not meant to argue for or against the case, because the Election Commission “is simply seeking to provide information to the court.”
Full Article: Judge hears arguments about Aurora Election Commission referendum – Aurora Beacon-News.