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GOP challenge of La Salle County votes awaits Feb. 3 dismissal hearing

Grundy County judge sets hearing date

By Tom Collins

Voters fill booths at the VFW in La Salle on Nov. 3, 2021. (Scott Anderson)

The GOP’s challenge of La Salle County mail-in votes could be settled Feb. 3.

Friday, a judge scheduled a hearing on a motion to dismiss the case brought against La Salle County Clerk Lori Bongartz over her handling of mail-in votes. The La Salle County Republican Central Committee believes some of the votes should be voided.

Judge Scott Belt scheduled the hearing for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 3. Additional filings are expected before the hearing on why the case should proceed.

The GOP has argued that some mail-in votes were not handled properly, tilting two races in favor of Todd Martin, now La Salle County state’s attorney, and state Rep. Lance Yednock of Ottawa, both democrats.

Earlier this month, Belt threw out the portion of the complaint pertaining to Yednock’s race. At issue now is whether the state’s attorney’s race will be altered by the voiding of mail-in votes.

Martin received 27,206 votes to Republican incumbent Karen Donnelly’s 25,111 – a difference of 2,095 votes.