Expect an eastside political battle to heat up after one side formally accused the other of “a clear pattern of voting irregularities and possible fraud.”
The accusation comes from Roy Williams, who is running for the Sangamon County Board in District 19 and for the committeeman post of precinct 119. In a letter to the Illinois State Board of Elections, dated Feb. 20, Williams claims leaders of the Sangamon County Minority Caucus, including his precinct opponent Cecil Turner and his County Board opponent Doris Turner — Cecil’s wife — rigged absentee ballots and let people register to vote in precincts where they don’t actually live.
Williams is a member of East Side Pride, a slate of seven Democratic candidates running for precinct positions. While a couple members face no opposition, the rest are challenging incumbents who belong to the Minority Caucus, of which Cecil Turner is president. The contest was described in a recent Illinois Times story [Sherman, “Taking off the gloves,” Jan. 29]. In his letter to the Board of Elections, Williams refers to the story, which quoted Cecil Turner’s heated reaction to news that Williams’ brother, Michael, won a patronage job with the city without Turner’s help. In his letter, Roy Williams says the Minority Caucus’ power over patronage jobs derives from its ability to deliver votes, often through improper means.
Williams’ letter also complains that several people are registered to vote at the Turners’ home address; the Illinois Times story documented that, based on precinct records, eight people were registered there.
“We have very little information available now,” says Dan White, executive director for the State Board of Elections. “We’ve received [Williams’] letter and are reviewing it. We have met with the [Sangamon County Clerk] and are reviewing documents the clerk has given to us.”
White says there’s no way of telling how long such an investigation takes. If any election code violations turn up, the board forwards its findings to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
The Turners have rejected East Side Pride’s allegations, and claim the organization is simply out to grab political power. East Side Pride, whose members are active with the organization Unity for Our Community, insists the Minority Caucus has lost touch with constituents.
Voters will settle the score on March 16, when Illinois holds its primary elections. Republican and Democratic precinct committeemen and women don’t compete in the general election because each party can install a captain in each precinct.
This article appears in Mar 4-10, 2004.
