We told you yesterday the field was set for the Carmi Consolidated Election scheduled for April 1st, 2025. WROY/WRUL News learned this morning of a formal objection filed by current Carmi Mayor Jeff Pollard balking at challenger Bill Stendeback’s petition to run for the office. City Attorney Greg Stewart tells us the objection is based on allegations surrounding Stendeback’s residence status. Per the state statute, the city’s Chief Executive Officer must reside within city limits at least one year preceding the election.
The next step in the process is an initial meeting to be held in City Council Chambers at 10am on Monday, November 25th. The electoral board of review will gather briefly to set the rules of procedure and to set the date for evidence to be heard. The public is welcome to attend the proceedings, but no audio or video recording devices will be permitted.
So, who’s on the review board and how do they get there? Stewart says per Illinois statute, it’s made up of the City Clerk (Cynthia Attebury), the mayor, and the longest serving council member (Mark Blake in this case). Stewart says because the mayor obviously can’t rule on his own objection, that spot on the review board is filled with the next longest serving council member (Steve Winkleman).
The date for evidence to actually be heard is expected to be in early December.
