Statehouse Playhouse

The continuing drama of Weller v. Christensen

Four months after the general election, Jerry Weller and Ray Christensen are still contesting the 85th District House seat — this time before a House committee instead of district voters. At issue is whether Republican Weller's "official" four-vote victory should stand or whether former Democratic incumbent Ray Christensen should be restored to his old seat. We pick up on the action with Act IV (for the first three, see the March magazine, back cover).

ACT IV:

Scene 1: The House Elections Committee on February 25 votes unanimously to proceed with a full recount. Christensen's atorney, Andrew Raucci, supports the vote. "The real issue is not whether Mr. Weller or Mr. Christensen is the winner," he says, "but whether either can serve in the House without a cloud over them."

But Weller and his attorneys, Sheldon Gardner and George Pontikes, object, even though they petitioned in January for a full recount. Gardner calls the recount vote a "sham," charging that Christensen and Raucci failed to provide the evidence of vote fraud or corruption needed to justify a recount.

Scene 2: Between February 26 and March 5 the committee examines all 28,430 ballots for defects or "irregularities," such as "identifying marks, according to Gardner, and challenges "maybe 60 or 70."

Scene 3: The play goes on the road. On March 6 and March 9 the Election Committee trucks the ballots to the 85th District and has the county clerks verify the votes.

ACT V: Battle over Bourbannais

Still to come: "Evidentiary" hearings. The committee will hear testimony and examine documents involving the "irregular" ballots, Gardner said. The biggest conflict could arise over the Bourbonnais 9th precinct, near Kankakee. Christensen seeks to throw out all of its 518 votes, alleging that 13 of its voters voted twice. Weller filed motions on March 9 to block Christensen's move.

Whatever the action before the committee, the outcome of the drama will be played on the House floor, where the Democrats hold a 67-51 advantage.

Chris Gaudet