Posted on 02/11/2009 8:05:52 PM PST by TheEaglehasLanded
Petition challenges shrink field in race for Emanuel's seat by Alex Keefe Feb 05, 2009 Two candidates hung on to their spots on the 5th Congressional District primary ballot on Thursday, but one was bumped off when Cook County election officials issued rulings on several ballot petition challenges in the race to fill Rahm Emanuels vacant seat.
A county election board found that Democrat Roger Thompson III has only 494 valid petition signaturesfar short of the 927 he needed to run in the March 3 primary.
Its not easy for anybody to break into politics, said Thompson, who struggled through the petition objection process without the help of a lawyer. You have to have the insider knowledge, and I dont have any insider knowledge. Thats why I think Im a better candidate than most.
Thompson, a 40-year-old real estate agent, didnt go without a fight.
He even requested that the chairman of the Cook County Officers Electoral Board, which rules on petition challenges, go through the 24-minute process of counting all of Thompsons objections to challenges lodged against his petitions line by line, until it was proved that he didnt have enough valid signatures to stay on the ballot.
Fifty percent of me says, Yeah, I got a fair shake, and the other 50 percent of me is disappointed and says, I didnt get a fair shake. But Im still digesting all the facts.
Thompson said he still plans to run as a write-in candidate.
Transit Thompsons was one of five petitions that were challenged in the race to fill the vacancy created when Emanuel became President Barack Obamas chief of staff.
Fellow Democrat Paul Bryar acknowledged on Sunday that volunteers for his campaign were behind three of the objections, including Thompsons. Those volunteers also objected to the nominating papers of Democrats Pete Dagher, Charlie Wheelan.
Officials with Daghers campaign announced Tuesday that he would drop out of the race because he likely wouldnt survive the challenge to his nominating papers.
But Wheelan retained his place atop the primary ballot, overcoming a comprehensive challenge that even questioned the validity of his wifes signature.
It seems like a form of harassment, but were glad well remain at the top of the ballot, Wheelan campaign manager Patrick Mogge said. Its frustrating that allegations were made, but I think it made us stronger. It increased interest and helped us raise some money and get our supporters revved up.
The elections panel also ruled that Republican Rosanna Pulido, who founded the Illinois Minuteman Project, can stay on the ballot. She had been challenged by the leader of a group that opposes her hard-line immigration policies.
[These challenges] are always malicious attacks to get people off the ballot, Pulido said. The interesting thing to me was that they even threw my fathers signature out. I live with my father, and he was not happy about that, either.
The board could decide Monteagudos fate on Monday, when its set to hold another hearing.
On a separate note, Green Party candidate Alan Auguston announced that he will bow out of next months primary to deal with a family medical emergency. Auguston ran unsuccessfully for Emanuels congressional post in the 2008 general election.
Twenty-two people remain in the race: Twelve Democrats, six Republicans and four Green Party candidates.
Chip in some money for Rosanna
Don’t let those little bastards get you, Rosie. Keep giving ‘em hell.
Congrats Rosanna!
Was the objector’s attorney named Michael Kasper? He’s the lawyer the Democrats always use to kick people off the ballot.
it is a longshot, but the correct GOP candidate could win. Flanagan won this seat over Rostenkowski as you will recall.
The link to the original article is incorrect.
bttt
Hang in there, Rosanna - you can beat ‘em!
http://chicagoist.com/2009/01/20/official_candidate_list_for_rahms_s.php
there is a link, which has links. I would not bet on the GOP coming up with the right candidate for this one. The wrong candidate will get trounced.
Running an Anti-Obama campaign in Chicago: not smart politics right now.
the link at the bttt is working now. Must have been my browser. sorry
Stay the course. It may be brutal; but stay the course.
Remember, we know libs lie.
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