Amherst’s progressive reputation on trial at stormy Board of Registrars meeting
Updated May 12, 2021;
AMHERST – The town’s progressive reputation ended up on trial during a stormy Board of Registrars meeting Monday, when board member Demetria Shabazz said she may resign, accusing the municipality of voter “disenfranchisement’ involving more than 100 rejected signatures on a citizens petition related to Jones Library.
Shabazz accused the town’s attorney, Gregg Corbo of KP law of using “scare tactics,” after he spoke against her suggestion that would involve examining the rejected signatures.
Corbo said her idea could lead to litigation.
The May 10 BOR meeting reviewed an open meeting law complaint filed against the board involving an April 21 meeting.
Amherst registrars won’t review signatures on library petition
Petitioners are trying to bring about a town referendum on the Jones Library renovation project. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Published: 5/10/2021 8:22:38 PM
AMHERST An effort to declare null and void the recent certification of signatures on a voter veto effort to put the $36.3 million Jones Library project to a town referendum has been rejected by the Board of Registrars.
Board member Dee Shabazz asked that the board give itself the authority to evaluate the validity of signatures by using voter registration cards at a meeting Thursday. But the board deadlocked on the issue, with Shabazz joined by Jaime Wagner voting yes and colleagues Jacqueline Gardner and Town Clerk Susan Audette voting no.
Craig and two co-defendants Stephen Lee Henderson, of Gary, and William Blasingame III, of Harvey, Illinois, were charged with killing Jacqueline Gardner, 24, during a May 19, 2012, robbery outside her Schererville apartment.