Ugly politics rears head in Rutland Twp.

Politics raised its ugly head at a special Rutland Township meeting to consider a matter relating to the April Consolidated Election.

At issue was the legitimacy of Margaret Sanders'petition for her candidacy as Rutland Township Supervisor. Sanders is completing her second term and is seeking election to a third term. A Rutland Township resident filed the complaint at the request of two Rutland Township officials. They and a new candidate for the Assessor position testified during the meeting.

If you attended township meetings, you would have observed the poor working relationship between a group of trustees and the clerk toward the Supervisor. It was less than cordial. It could be characterized as antagonistic, disrespectful and laced with acrimony.

That background couldn't help but influence the perception of politics as usual for the purpose of bringing Sanders' candidacy to an end. A casual observation after the 2-1 vote sustaining the complaint had the appearance of ignoring the appeal by the Township and defense attorneys to the panel to base its decision on the preponderance of evidence. Many residents who attended the meeting were dismayed at the disregard for the absence of incriminating evidence by the two panel members voting to sustain the allegation.

The panel consisted of two township trustees and one resident. The two trustees voted to sustain the complaint and the one resident voted to deny the complaint.

An appeal will be filed seeking to reverse the decision. The reviewing panel will not include any township officials.

The proceedings remind us that politicians sharing the same mind set will sometimes agree that 2+2 = 3.

Jim Darow

Huntley