Libertarian’s signatures challenged in 33rd Senate race
Libertarian candidate Doug Marks, who is vying for the 33rd state Senate District seat against Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay, first must win a challenge that could keep him off the November ballot.
James Abbott of Geneva and Kenneth Cabay of Lake in the Hills jointly filed an objection to Marks’ petition signatures, claiming not enough of them are valid.
Marks, a village trustee in Carpentersville, collected 3,400 signatures from across Kane and McHenry counties — 400 more than he needed to get on the ballot.
According to the objection filed with the State Officers Electoral Board, Abbot and Cabay are alleging some of the signatures in Marks’ petition are forged, duplicated or printed instead of signed, names do not match addresses for registered voters, signers live outside the 33rd District and the petition sheets include names with incomplete addresses.
“The RepubliCrats don’t want any competitors,” Marks said in a news release. “I think they must be afraid that if the voters are given another option to the mess that is Illinois government they’ll take it, because my petition has been challenged.”
Cabay and Abbot could not be reached to comment on their objections.
A hearing officer was assigned to the objection case Monday, according to Rupert Borgsmiller, executive director of the State Board of Elections. Once the signatures are examined, the officer will make a recommendation to the electoral board.
Borgsmiller said a decision as to whether Marks can stay on the ballot likely will be made at the Aug. 6 board meeting. The last day for changes to the ballot is Aug. 24, when it will be certified for the election.
McConnaughay won the Republican primary in March. There is no Democrat running in the 33rd District, which would leave her unopposed if Marks is taken off the ballot.