Tami O’Brien, who initially beat Homer Township Supervisor and longtime Will County Board member Steve Balich in the March 19 race for Homer Township Republican precinct committeeperson, has conceded after losing a judge-ordered lottery during the recount process.
“She graciously stepped down,” O’Brien’s attorney, Paul O’Grady, said at a court hearing Wednesday, ending the recount battle that began last month after Balich challenged the results of the election.
O’Brien, of Homer Glen, beat Balich, the past chair of the Homer Township Republican Organization, by one vote, but the candidates learned one ballot that was cast for O’Brien had not been initialed by an election judge.
Will County Circuit Court Judge John Anderson tossed out the ballot, and the election resulted in a tie, which was decided by lottery.
Anderson said at Wednesday’s hearing that he didn’t like his ruling, but he followed the law.
“Making someone’s vote not count is distasteful to me, but I followed what I’m supposed to do,” Anderson said.
O’Brien and her supporters argued Balich’s election challenge was taking away someone’s right to have their vote counted. They said it was a simple mistake, and the voter had no reason to believe their voice would be stifled.
“As Mr. Balich sees his political career waning, it looks very desperate,” O’Grady said, adding it is unusual to see an election challenge for precinct committeeperson, an unpaid position.
Balich and his attorneys said the law is clear that ballots need to be initialed by an election judge to protect the integrity of elections and prevent ballot stuffing. Balich said it’s a rule of thumb to challenge election results when they are so close.
O’Grady said there were no allegations of ballot stuffing in this instance because the number of ballots requested and returned were the same. Rather, it was a scrivener’s error on behalf of an election judge, he said.
O’Brien informed the Will County Republican Central Committee Tuesday of her resignation from the position of precinct committeeperson that she held for only a few weeks. She said that while she wished she could continue to fight, the litigation has been too costly. She has also had to take time away from work and family to defend the election results.
“It is unfortunate that Balich would simply not accept the results of a fair election, and resorted to these Democratic tactics,” she wrote in her resignation letter.
She said the community has supported her during the last few weeks while the results were being challenged.
“This whole thing is very upsetting,” O’Brien said. “I worked very hard for this. I really wanted to do this. The last month and a half has been very emotional, but people are behind me 100%.”
O’Brien said she plans to run for an office in April when three Homer Glen trustee positions and all Homer Township elected positions will be on the ballot. She said she will ensure there are poll watchers at polling places to make sure that ballots are initialed.
“I will be running for something,” she said. “I’m not giving up. I’m upset still, but I know I won. (Balich) can’t take that away from me. I’m strong. I’m meant for bigger and better things.”
O’Brien said she plans to keep her position of treasurer of the Homer Township Republican Organization, which was decided during a reorganization meeting after the election.
The local Republicans selected Dave Sinkus and Marty Pavlik to lead the Homer Township Republican Organization.
Balich said he is moving on from chairing the group.
He said he hopes everything is worked out between himself and O’Brien and they will be able to work together. He said the Homer Republican organization plans to work hard to get their preferred candidates elected in November.
“I told (O’Brien) don’t quit the Republican Party,” Balich said. “This is a big election year. I don’t want to see her go.”
The organization states its main purposes are to promote the principles of the Republican Party and help, support and elect Republican candidates within Homer Township and at other levels. The group states it also works to promote responsible government and good citizenship.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.