A pair of Republican candidates for public office, including one running for the state senate, claim they were recently denied entry into a candidate forum being held at a public facility.
State Senate District 49 candidate Thomas McCullagh (R-Shorewood) and Will County Executive candidate Nick Ficarello (R-Braidwood) insist they were turned away from the event being held at the Bolingbrook Public Library by rival state Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) and DuPage Township Democratic Organization Chair Jack Traynere.
In Illinois, all government meetings of public bodies are typically open to the public.
Illinois state Senate District 49 candidate Thomas McCullagh (R-Shorewood)
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In response, McCullagh, who will take on Bertino-Tarrant in November, wants to make certain that no one hoping to attend one of his events is made to feel that way.
“I want to formally invite all Democratic candidates for State Senate District 49 to any candidate nights or Will County Republican Central Committee meetings,” McCullagh told the Will County Gazette. “I firmly believe that every voice should be heard to have all sides of an argument presented and to allow voters equal access to all voices in the discussion, so that everyone who will be voting can make a truly informed decision.”
“Denying persons entry to an open meeting is a violation of the Open Meetings Act” and punishable by the filing of criminal charges against members of a public body found to be in violation, according to Digital Law Media.
Bertino-Tarrant is also running for Will County Executive, while Traynere also serves on the Will County Board.
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