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Board accepts general counsel recommendation in Friends of Matthew Hickey enforcement case
Summary
The State Board of Elections accepted staff's recommendation finding multiple allegations in Friends of Matthew Hickey v. Johnson not filed on justifiable grounds, citing statutory definitions and appellate precedent. The motion passed unanimously by roll call.
The State Board of Elections voted to accept the general counsel's recommendation in the enforcement matter Friends of Matthew Hickey v. Johnson, finding the allegations not filed on justifiable grounds.
Chair Donahue summarized staff and hearing-officer findings and cited legal precedent, noting that the board relied on the statutory definition of a contribution ("10 ILCS 5/9-1.4(a)(1)") and the appellate decision Sorock v. Illinois State Board of Elections for the proposition that web design and certain published material are not contributions under Illinois law. "All alleged violations are found to be not filed on justifiable grounds," the board recorded during the reading of the staff recommendation.
A committee member moved to accept the general counsel's recommendation and the motion was seconded. The board took a roll call vote and the motion passed; the board announced the motion passed without any recorded dissents or abstentions.
Next steps: the decision implements the hearing officer's findings as supplemented by general counsel and closes this enforcement matter as to the counts listed in the staff memorandum.
