The McHenry County State’s Attorney has captured the cost incurred when the Illinois State Board of Elections failed to place Circuit Court Judge Maureen McIntyre on the ballot. Lou Bianchi’s press release follows:

“Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office just recovered a judgment in the amount $37,806.75 from the State of Illinois on behalf of the County, and has deposited this amount with the McHenry County Treasurer.

“This money was recovered as a result of the State’s Attorney’s Office filing and pursuing a claim against the State of Illinois and the Illinois State Board of Elections in the Court of Claims. The claim arose due to an error made by the Illinois State Board of Elections in the November 7, 2006 judicial retention ballot for Circuit Court Judge Maureen McIntyre.

“The error occurred when the Illinois State Board of Elections mistakenly omitted the Honorable Judge McIntyre’s name from the McHenry County ballots.

“Therefore, McHenry County and the County Clerk Katherine Schultz, had to arrange and pay for the re-printing of the ballots on an expedited basis in order to have them prepared in time for the election.

“Shortly after the retention election was held, the State’s Attorney’s Office promptly filed this claim, which has now resulted in the reimbursement of all funds expended by the County for the re-printing of the ballots. These funds will be returned to the County General Fund.”

The money is a result of a claim filed with the Illinois Court of Claims. The county won about nine months ago.

The way the process works is that such awards appear in separate line items in an appropriations bill. The bill was probably signed in July and, with the shortage of money, the check just arrived.