DANVILLE — The Danville Election Commission voted Wednesday to keep city council candidate Jaleel Jones on the April 1st ballot, in a repeat of the group’s decision in December.
The Election Commission had failed to post proper advance notice of the earlier meeting, prompting them to schedule a second one.
This time around, the three-member panel — including new member Catherine Osterbur — once again rejected York’s argument, on the grounds that the Ward Seven alderman doesn’t live in Ward One, where Jones is running, and thus has no standing to raise an objection.
York had argued that that Jones’s ballot paperwork stated that he was running for city council, without specifically stating that he was running in Ward One.
Even if his objections were considered, Election Commission chairman Tom Mellen said he thinks it’s best practice to be lenient with candidates who make minor petition errors.
“As opposed to being precise and picky, we’re supposed to be generous, with the idea that people should be able to run for office,” said Mellen. “I think that’s the general course of the case law.”
The Election Commission heard comments in Jones’ defense from Edward T. Butler, president of the NAACP Danville branch. He noted that York, who is white, was trying to keep a Black candidate off the ballot.
“Mr. York needs to man up and realize that we as Blacks have the same right as he has as a white man,” said Butler.
Both Jones and his opponent in the election, incumbent alderman Robert Williams, are Black.
Jones is a first-time candidate challenging Williams, who was elected without opposition in 2021. In 2019, Williams was appointed to the council seat formerly held by Mayor Rickey Williams Jr.
Jones said his experience with challenges to his election petitions has taught him to be extra careful with his filing paperwork.
“And now I know, so the next time that … people that want to be in the office, you got to be real delicate with what you do, and pay real close attention to what you do, too,” said Jones.
The April 1st Danville City Council election is non-partisan. Voters will pick candidates for each ward, representing seven seats on the 14-member council.
The other half of the council, representing the same wards, will be up for election in two years. Candidates for township offices and school boards will also be on the April 1 ballot.