Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Politics / Clout City Joe Laiacona's Petition Challenge Against Deb Mell May Get a Hearing Soon
Posted by Alison True on 11.25.09 at 01:30 PM
Hunter Clauss reports an update in Joe Laiacona's petition challenge against Deborah Mell.
Laiacona and Mell are running for state rep in the 40th District, and if you caught our recent feature on Laiacona, a Columbia teacher and fetish columnist, you know that Mell may have made a technical error on her nominating petition.
Laiacona alleges that she failed to note the change when she moved to a new address. Challenging petitions is a time-honored tradition in Chicago electoral politics often used by the likes of Mell and her father, Alderman Richard Mell.
Now a hearing examiner has issued a recommendation to the Chicago Board of Elections that it dismiss Laiacona's challenge. Citing the Illinois Election Code, examiner Barabara Goodman said a candidate does not have to be a registered voter to run, and therefore the address on her voter registration is irrelevant. The Board of Elections next meets Tuesday, December 1.
UPDATE: The Tribune's Eric Zorn has updated his coverage of the challenge with excerpts from legal precedents here.
Comments (4)
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And if it had been Mell challenging Laiacona, the recommendation would have been...
like
dislikeNow there's a surprise, the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago's Hearing Office ruling in favor of the incumbent. Joe Lake, Bucktown
I guess as a follower of Henry George it's par for the course, seeing as I WANT & NEED to be elected both Mayor of Chicago, & Gov. of Illinois! Why do we whites have make EVERYTHING so complicated & technical?
