Objections against a McHenry County sheriff candidate to be heard at an upcoming Electoral Board meeting
MCHENRY COUNTY — On March 21, McHenry residents William Brogan and Joel Brumlik filed a petition with the McHenry County Clerk’s Office, objecting to the purported nomination papers filed by Antonio “Tony” Colatorti, one of the Republican candidates running for the office of McHenry County sheriff.
Brogan and Brumlik allege, according to the Verified Objectors’ Petition they submitted, that Colatorti does not hold the appropriate qualifications necessary to be elected to the office of McHenry County sheriff because, as stated in writing on the petition, “he does not have a certificate attesting to his successful completion of the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training,” as required by the Illinois Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/3-6001.5).
“In short, the police reform bill requires sheriffs to have completed a particular type of training. Colatorti has not completed the required training,” said Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, who is representing Brogan and Brumlik. Krafthefer further alleges, “He [Colatorti] has completed a part-time officer training course, but not the correct course to run for sheriff. He swore under oath in his statement of candidacy that he is qualified, but he is not, so his statement is false.”
The petition states that on or about May 20, 1999, Colatorti received a certificate for “Law Enforcement Officer Part-Time” from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, the agency responsible for developing and approving the courses individuals must complete before being eligible for employment as a local law enforcement officer under the Illinois Police Training Act (50 ILCS 705/8).
Following his certification as a part-time law enforcement officer, Colatorti spent 22 years working at various police departments, including serving as a part-time chief-of-police for the Holiday Hills Police Department, serving as a police sergeant in 2009 for the Tower Lakes Police Department, and serving as a sergeant and later as chief of the Prairie Grove Police Department.
In 2020, Colatorti announced he would be resigning from his position as Prairie Grove’s police chief, citing that he and the village had separate visions for the department.
As a result of the petition filed against Colatorti, Robb Tadelmen, the other Republican candidate running for the office of McHenry County Sheriff, issued a press release statement addressing the allegations.
“I am aware of the objections that have been filed against my opponent’s petition to run for Sheriff and I support that objection. The law requires sheriffs to have experience and training as full-time law enforcement officers. Unlike my opponent, who has not had any experience in full-time law enforcement and is currently out of the profession, I am a certified full-time law enforcement officer and currently acting in that capacity,” said Tadelman.
According to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, since May 2021, Colatorti’s part-time law enforcement certification has been deemed inactive following his departure as a part-time police officer for the Crystal Lake Park District.
“It is surprising that my opponent would seek this office without the appropriate qualifications or credentials, and that he would falsify paperwork to say that he has the qualifications when, in fact, he does not,” added Tadelman in his released statement. “Law enforcement officers swear to uphold the law. If he cannot even follow the basic laws to get on the ballot as a qualified candidate, how can the public have any confidence in him to uphold the very same laws that protect them and this great community?”
Although Colatorti did not return My Huntley News’ request for comment, he responded to the allegations made against him in a March 24 press release.
“While I’m not worried about my place on the ballot, I find it deeply concerning that my opponent is attempting to question my integrity and the integrity of my supporters and take away voters’ right to choose their next sheriff,” stated Colatorti’s statement. “I consider this a pathetic attempt to deface the democratic process and oppress the voters who want their votes counted…I’ll take this opportunity to remind my opponent that I am a certified police officer and qualified to be on the ballot according to the law and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.”
Chief Deputy McHenry County Clerk Debra Nieto told My Huntley News that the McHenry County Electoral Board has scheduled an objection hearing for March 28 at 10 a.m.
The hearing regarding the objections to Colatorti’s candidacy will take place at the McHenry County Administration Building in Woodstock.
“My opponent has inadvertently drawn yet another contrast between our two campaigns. I’m running against the ‘good ole boys club’ that has unfortunately chosen to resort to Chicago-style political tricks,” Colatorti said in his press statement. “One of the objectors to my petitions, Bill Brogan, is a retired McHenry County College schoolteacher and a retired police officer who has been absent from law enforcement for over a decade. Brogan serves on a board for a local political organization that is supporting my opponent, along with outgoing sheriff Bill Prim and former state’s attorney Lou Bianchi. This is just more of the ‘good ole boys’ trying to ensure that they stay in power.”
