Township electoral board takes Helnore off ballot

By Bob Balgemann

REPORTER

Diann Helnore will not be running for Belvidere Township supervisor during the Tuesday, April 4 election.

A three-member township electoral board voted 3-0 Tuesday, Jan. 17 to concur with a challenge from the current supervisor, Bill Robertson, which claimed she had not secured enough valid signatures on petitions of nomination.

The board agreed with the findings of Boone County Clerk Mary Steurer that Helnore had collected 236 valid signatures, when in fact she needed 244. Members of the board were Richard Nelson, chairman, with members Judy Schabacker and Bob Turner.

Nelson and Turner are incumbent members of the Belvidere Township Board of Trustees, while Schabacker is the longtime township clerk.

The board’s decisions means Helnore will not be able to run as an Independent candidate for supervisor, leaving Robertson as the winner. The Democratic Party did not slate a candidate for supervisor and no other Independents filed during the qualifying period in December.

Robertson was appointed supervisor last fall, following the unexpected death of Supervisor Patrick Murphy while in office.

Robertson, a township trustee when appointed supervisor, now is running as a Republican for a four-year term in that position.

Helnore ran as a Democrat eight years ago and won the election as township assessor by two votes. She lost her bid for re-election in 2013 to Republican Tami Torrence.

Belvidere Township will have a Republican primary election on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

At that time, incumbents Nelson, Kathy Grover, and Turner, along with challengers Jim Culvey and Ron Wait, will seek the four upcoming vacancies. Those receiving the most votes will win those four-year terms.

The township also will have a Republican primary for road commissioner. Candidates are Joe Cavney, Michael Dixon, Russell Moore, Nick Reininger, and Shane Treu. The winner will go against Independent candidate Kenneth McBee in the Tuesday, April 4 general election.

Longtime township clerk Schabacker is unopposed for another four-year term, as is Torrence in a bid for a second term.

Each of the eight remaining townships will have elections on Tuesday, April 4, with supervisor, board, and road commissioner positions expiring.

Also in April, there will be elections for village boards in Caledonia, Capron, Poplar Grove, and Timberlane; in the City of Belvidere; in Belvidere School District 100; and in North Boone School District 200.