Rock Island Today

The mayoral candidates in Moline now face a February primary after Stephanie Acri announced she will be running as a write-in candidate.

Mayor Scott Raes filed a suit against Acri and another candidate Bob Vogelbaugh because they hadn’t numbered the pages on the papers required to become a candidate. These numbered pages are required by election law.

“There’s been a lot of negative press against Mayor Raes for challenging, but it was his right to do it,” Brian Vyncke, one of Moline’s representatives on the Rock Island County board, told Rock Island Today.

The electoral board ruled 2-1 to reject Acri's and Vogelbaugh’s petitions, stating that the rules are clear on numbering the pages.

Vyncke thinks he understands why Raes filed the lawsuit. He can relate to a passion for the position and says the rules were very clear. However, he also regrets the turn the race has taken.

“I’m very disappointed as a citizen that this ball-dropping has occurred,” Vyncke said. “The voters should decide who wins rather than winning on a technicality.”

Acri filed papers to run as a write-in candidate. Her application was accepted by City Clerk Tracy Koranda after she consulted with the city attorney. This action results in a primary in February. Although Acri’s name will not appear on the ballot, voters have the opportunity to write in her name and make the mayoral race a contested one.

Vogelbaugh will not petition to be a write-in candidate.

Raes will be the only name to appear on the ballot. He was elected as mayor of Moline in 2013. Prior to becoming mayor, he served on the City Council for 10 years.

“There are challenges in almost all races,” county board member Jeffrey Deppe said. “These are just more high profile.”

The high-profile nature of this race will alert voters to other issues within the city, Vyncke hopes.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “A lot things may change because of this race.”

Vyncke said the county board has gotten a lot of heat in the last few years because of local budget issues and high property taxes. He wants voters to know that decisions about property taxes come from the city.

“I encourage voters to get out for this election,” Vyncke said. “The city has a lot more ability to affect property taxes than the county board.”

Vyncke said municipal elections have a historically low voter turnout, so he wants to make sure they have a higher showing this time around. The alderman candidates, John Zelnio and Sonia Berg, have also been officially taken off the ballot because of not numbering their pages. Both candidates said they will also run as write-in candidates.

The primary will be held Feb. 28.