Champaign Mayor Deborah Feinen has finally recused herself from an Electoral Board hearing after issues have been raised about her personal bias in the matter.  Some of those issues have been described in a recent Check CU article, which bears a title the likes of which may very well be found in The Onion:

Prior Champaign City Attorney Seeks to Disqualify Political Opponent of Mayor’s Personal Fitness Trainer

Feinen’s last-minute recusal does not come without a noticeable pouting flair.  In her letter to the Electoral Board Hearing Officer, Fred Stavins (also the Champaign City Attorney), she makes a number of arguments and defenses as to why she should not have to recuse herself, and even goes on to cite case law.

Feinen’s claims are not terribly convincing, however, since the strongest argument that she can summon is that the mere suggestion of bias is not enough to cause the removal of an electoral board member.  The issue of Feinen’s bias is not limited to mere suggestion, as she implies, but to an obvious and factual basis for significant bias.

Fred Stavins brought the issue to the Chief Judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, who agreed to remove Feinen from the Board less than three hours before the hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 6pm.

Here is Deborah Feinen’s December 15^th letter, recusing herself from the Champaign Electoral Board (click for full 2-page PDF):

And here is the order from the Chief Judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit removing Deborah Feinen and Assigning City Council member Will Kyles to take her place on the board and serve as the Chair (click for full 3-page PDF):

-Christopher Hansen, Urbana