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Rock Island Republican Party appeals Electoral Board’s ruling on Boyd’s resignation

In the wake of former Sheriff Jeff Boyd’s resignation, the Rock Island Republican Party is appealing the decision to have Sheriff Gerald Bustos on the November ...

In the wake of former Sheriff Jeff Boyd’s resignation, the Rock Island Republican Party is appealing the decision to have Sheriff Gerald Bustos on the November 4 ballot.

Boyd agreed to resign as Rock Island County Sheriff on September 11, 2014, the day he pleaded guilty to attempted misconduct based on attempted cyber-stalking.

After Boyd’s resignation, the Rock Island County Democratic Party chose Captain Gerry Bustos to replace him. He was sworn in on September 12. Bustos was also selected to appear on the November 4 ballot in place of Boyd.

On September 25, Rock Island County Republican Chair Bill Bloom challenged the way Boyd resigned and how Bustos was selected to be on the ballot. As it stands, democrat Gerry Bustos is supposed to run unopposed for the sheriff position. Bloom spoke in front of the Rock Island County Election Review Board claiming Boyd’s resignation was done the wrong way.

That same day, the Rock Island County Electoral Board ruled that Boyd’s resignation was valid and did not break any laws.

An official appeal to that ruling was filed Wednesday, October 1. In the complaint, Bloom called for judicial review of the Electoral Board’s ruling. Click here to read the complaint.

In a release Wednesday, October 1, Bloom  again argued that Boyd’s resignation was not done properly.

“If the County Clerk did not have possession of a withdrawal form at the time the Central Committee of the Democratic Party voted to replace the Sheriff on the ballot, then no opening existed and this vote is null and void,” Bloom said.

He said the Rock Island Republican Party thinks the County Board should have been the ones to determine who would step in as acting sheriff and who should appear on the November election in place of Boyd, not the Rock Island County Democratic Party.

“In taking these positions, we are doing so not to condone or defend Sheriff Boyd or to somehow oppose Gerald Bustos,” said Bloom. “We are taking these positions solely because it is the opinion of the members of the Rock Island County Republican Party that the rights of the people of Rock Island County have been stepped on by the Democratic Party of Rock Island County.”

Rock Island County Board Minority Leader Drue Mielke agreed the County Board should decide who fills the sheriff position. He requested for the County Board to schedule a special meeting where they could make these decisions.

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