Although a judge ruled the Niles elected ethics board unconstitutional this spring, two proponents of the change are appealing the case to a higher court. One of the plaintiffs was a candidate for the board.
Although a Cook County judge ruled that Niles voters could not elect the members of the village’s ethics board earlier this spring, the primary backer of the change and a candidate for the board are asking a higher court to reconsider the decision. Joseph Makula, who advocated for a referendum allowing Niles citizens to elect their ethics board members, and David Carrabotta, a former Maine .
Niles resident, activist Joe Makula files a ballot referendum petition with Village Clerk Marlene Victorine in November 2019 calling for members of the Niles Board of Ethics to be elected rather than appointed. The question appeared on the Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Municipal Election ballot. (Photo provided) A notice of appeal was filed last month
Niles village trustee and ethics board candidates line up at the village clerk's window in village hall Monday, Dec. 12 to be the first to file petitions to run in the Tuesday, April 4 municipal election. (Tom Robb/Journal photo) A Cook County judge ruled that the election of members of the Niles Board of Ethics