Grundy County Judge Robert Marsaglia retires Friday. Before he leaves, he wants to resolve the LaSalle County Republican Central Committee’s court case over vote totals a month ago. After two hearings today, attorney Matt Krueger, who was appointed to represent LaSalle County Clerk Lori Bongartz, is looking over the party’s amended complaint filed this afternoon so he can make an informed response. Hoping overnight will be enough time, Judge Marsaglia scheduled another hearing for noon Friday.
The Republican Party is going to court over results that appeared final but weren’t. On election night, victory briefly appeared to go to State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly and Illinois House candidate Travis Breeden. Both are Republicans. Another run of vote totals a few minutes later put Democrats Todd Martin and Lance Yednock ahead. Martin took office as State’s Attorney Tuesday and Yednock will remain the representative from the 76th Illinois House district if the election results stand.
The original plan for a hearing today was to determine how much money the LaSalle County Republicans should put up in a security deposit to pay for the recount that Judge Marsaglia indicated he was ready to order. That wasn’t discussed though. Krueger filed a motion to dismiss the original complaint this morning. William Hotopp, representing the Republicans, got time to review that motion but filed the amended complaint this afternoon instead.