Township Highway Commissioner Election in Shelby County in Question

A township electoral board will meet this week in Shelby County to help decide whether a candidate for highway commissioner should appear on the April election ballot.

Objections were filed to the candidacy of Cory Wells as Shelbyville Township Highway Commissioner. The objection filed by Robin Robertson alleges that Wells had not fulfilled the one-year residency requirement to seek the office. Another objection is that the nominating papers weren't notarized.

A Shelbyville Township Electoral Board will convene Friday at 4pm at the Shelbyville Township Building to consider the case.

Such hearings are rare; 4th Circuit Chief Judge Michael McHaney has appointed Effingham attorney Chris Koester to serve as counsel for the Electoral Board, which has never previously met. Koester represented Mike DePoister on a similar ballot question in Effingham County in 2016, so has experience in such matters.

The Electoral Board will consider evidence and testimony Friday, then will return a written decision next week.