The judge has made a decision in two cases filed by a Trenton businesswoman against the City of Trenton and the Grundy County Nursing Home District involving contested elections.
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The judge has made a decision in two cases filed by a Trenton businesswoman against the City of Trenton and the Grundy County Nursing Home District involving contested elections.
Sullivan County Associate Court Judge James G. Spencer has granted a dismissal of the lawsuit against the city of Trenton and Fourth Ward Councilman Troy Smith involving the April city council election in which Mrs. Garcia was a candidate facing Smith, the incumbent who was re-elected. The respondents had asked to have sanctions imposed, making Mrs. Garcia responsible for all costs incurred by the respondents in defending the case. Judge Spencer overruled that request, but did order Mrs. Garcia to pay court costs.
Mrs. Garcia had alleged that her name did not appear on all ballots in the fourth ward and that Smith?s name had appeared on ballots in the third ward.
In the case against the Grundy County Nursing Home District, in which board members Larry Griffin and Melvin Tuttle were also listed as respondents, Judge Spencer ruled for the respondents in the contested election and granted a motion from the respondents for sanctions. Mrs. Garcia was ordered to pay $1,890 in costs incurred by the respondents in defending the case, as well as $158 court costs.
Mrs. Garcia had alleged that she had been the first candidate to file for the election, but that her name had appeared third on the ballot, contrary to law. Nursing home records showed that Mrs. Garcia had filed after Griffin and Tuttle.
The cases had been heard in Division I of the Grundy County Circuit Court on Nov. 30.