Genoa Township trustee Candie Hovarter says she will challenge recently appointed Clerk Rick Soucy in the August Republican primary for the position left vacant after former Clerk Janene Deaton resigned in October, less than a year after taking office.
Deaton cited harassment, township employees intentionally withholding files from her, and calling the municipality “dysfunction junction,” among the reasons for her resignation.
The appointment of Soucy to replace Deaton came in a 4-2 vote, with Hovarter and trustee Bill Reiber voting against him. It was after Soucy’s appointment that Hovarter made her announcement.
“I couldn’t understand why Janene was treated so badly,” Hovarter said. “But now, seeing Rick appointed without allowing any other nominations, I understand why. And I don’t like it one bit.”
Hovarter said her intention at the start of the meeting was to appoint someone new to fill Deaton’s seat. The township had solicited applications from residents, but it’s not clear how many, if any, applied. Hovarter said she did not support Soucy for the appointment because appointing a sitting trustee right after a claim by the former clerk that she was pushed out did not pass what she called the “smell test.”
“I feel now like this was the plan all along,” Hovarter said. “I think it was dirty, and the best way to fight it is to run myself.”
Hovarter will challenge Soucy in the August 2026 Republican primary; the winner will move on to the November 2026 general election.
Multiple attempts to contact Soucy were unsuccessful. We will update this story if necessary.
