The objection to the petitions filed by Drake Hotel owner James P. Nagle to be on the April 6 ballot as an Oak Brook Village Board candidate was dismissed Monday by the village’s Electoral Board.
The objection was filed by former Village Board member Gerald Wolin, who submitted that Nagle should not be allowed to be on the ballot because the Drake Hotel has a liquor license. Wolin’s contention was that as a liquor license holder in the village, Nagle is not legally qualified to be on the Village Board.
Wolin cited Oak Brook’s village code, which states that no liquor license shall be issued to any elected official. He also argued that Nagle’s statement on his petition that he was legally qualified to hold such office was not accurate.
However, Nagle’s attorney, David Sotomayor, made a motion to dismiss Wolin’s objection.
“The objection is premature because Mr. Nagle is not an elected trustee,” Sotomayer argued.
Village Board member Michael Manzo, who along with fellow Village Board member Asif Yusuf and Village President Gopal Lalmalani comprised the Electoral Board, agreed with Sotomayer’s take, saying that Nagle is not an elected official in Oak Brook, and therefore Wolin’s objection wasn’t relevant. Oak Brook’s legal counsel, Karl Ottosen, and Abraham Zisook, legal counsel for the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, also supported that opinion.
Yusuf took it a step further by pointing out that the village code only prohibits an elected official from receiving or renewing a liquor license, not in keeping an active license.
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“Even if elected, the existing liquor license would be valid until it expires,” Yusuf said. Oak Brook liquor licenses are valid for one year, running from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.
Nagle is one of six candidates seeking one of three available four-year terms on the Village Board. Also running are incumbents John Baar and Philip Cuevas, along with Village Clerk Charlotte Pruss, Larry Herman and Dr. A. Suresh Reddy.
Current Village Board member Moin Saiyed is not seeking reelection.