The Orion Village Board appointed trustee Steve Newman as Village President at its meeting Monday night, following controversy over whether or not village president-elect Aaron Peer was eligible for the position.
Peer defeated 20-year incumbent Jim Cooper 368-116, a 53% margin of victory, in the April election. Questions arose about Peer’s eligibility for the office due to a felony controlled substance charge in 2001. Illinois municipal law bars individuals with a felony conviction from taking the oath for public office.
Newman was unanimously elected by the board to serve as village president.