SPRINGFIELD – Senate Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) has passed legislation with reforms to clarify a local election process and encourage more candidates to get on the ballot.

Senate Bill 2779 was brought to Sen. Holmes by Jeff Palmquist of the Fox Valley Park District. The intent is to clarify the number of signatures required for those running for Fox Valley Park District commissioner.

“There was some confusion as to how many signatures were required for each candidate, and from which area of the district those signatures were required to come from,” Holmes said. “There was no litigation, but the district received numerous calls about the ambiguous requirement. This is now clear and specific, and with fewer signatures required, more candidates may be able to get on the ballot.”

The Fox Valley Park District consists of seven commissioners, elected to four year terms. Six commissioners make up three two-member sub-districts, and one commissioner is elected at large.

SB2779 calls for six members to reside within the sub-district in which they were elected, and they are only required to collect two percent of signatures from registered voters in that specific sub-district.

Having passed the Senate, the measure now moves to the House for their consideration.