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My name is Don Harris, and I am posted on your site as a candidate for re-election as the Chouteau
Township Highway Commissioner.
The first thing is that I believe every citizen that is qualified legally, has the right to file and run for any
position they so desire in an election. However, there are rules/standards and guidelines that by law,
must be met. These are known as ”technicalities” and if not adhered to, can and in fact have, caused
persons to have their opposition removed from the ballot. Each candidate is required to follow these
guidelines, and also has the right to check that their opponent has met these requirements. Under these
guidelines and freedom of information, I obtained copies of my opponents petitions.
In scanning through these petitions/signatures, I immediately spotted MANY flaws in his petitions that I am
99% sure COULD have been used to have this man removed. I have these copies and can prove this.
After searching my conscience I determined that I did not want to enter onto a ballot in this manner and
decided I did not want to challenge. The gathering of the signatures are then verified as to their legitimacy
and then sworn and signed before a Notary under “penalties of perjury” that the signer has obtained and
witnessed EACH INDIVIDUAL “affix” their own signature to these petitions. I found it “amazing” how so
many persons on different lines of this petition could write in exactly the same penmanship, right down to
the appearance of their numerals. What an incredible feat. Could this be deception?
When a consolidated election is to be held,--again guidelines and laws must be adhered to. One of the
rules is that both major parties are notified by certified mail and informed of the upcoming election, (as if
they don’t know) and given the option to hold a caucus and submit a candidate. Both parties declined to
submit or nominate a candidate. The only “party” in this race is the Chouteau Citizens 2009 party. No
one ever even mentions major party affiliation at the Township meetings or our functions. We work as a
team. I AM about as independent as anyone could be! My opponent in this race would have you believe
from his signs posted throughout the township that he is carrying the banner of the Democrat party.
Again,..he needs to practice some PRINCIPLES of honesty. To be honest I voted for Helen Hawkins
and Alan Dunstan as well as a few others in this past election. He should not use such a broad brush on
me with his deceptive and malicious behavior. I was not and have not been involved in ANY
campaigning or working for ANY party in my life prior to being elected to the Commissioners’ job. I have
developed very good relationships with many other government entities and their personnel, some
political, --through working WITH them. This includes Granite City, Nameoki Township, Hartford, Pontoon
Beach, and South Roxana. I have served on a “storm water group” for the past four years, and have been
in direct face to face contact with County, State, and many Federal employees as well as private citizens.
Our focus was, and is, what we can accomplish for this entire area that we call
home.
This guy does not even know what streets belong to us for maintenance purposes. He proves this with his
Blurb in the Alton Telegraph. He wants us to maintain streets that are under State or Local jurisdiction. If
his knowledge of pump maintenance at CNV was as good as his knowledge of township government
functions,---it might explain why they are in need of new pumps. The last place I worked, we had pumps
that ran non-stop for in excess of 20 years due to proper maintenance.
An Open Letter to GraniteCityGossip.com regarding the
Chouteau Township Highway Commissioner Election
Submitted by Don Harris - Candidate
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