Des Plaines mayoral candidate staying on ballot

Des Plaines 6th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten will be able to run for mayor in April after all.

The city’s electoral board Thursday dismissed an objection against Walsten’s candidacy after the resident who filed it, Carl Mauter-Hollenbeck, voluntarily rescinded the challenge.

Walsten’s name will appear on the April 9 ballot along with two others vying for the mayoral post — 3rd Ward Alderman Matt Bogusz and former mayor Tony Arredia. They are seeking to replace former mayor Martin Moylan, who stepped down to serve in his newly elected role as state representative.

“Obviously they realized their objections were frivolous and that they had no chance of throwing me off the ballot for mayor of Des Plaines,” Walsten said in an emailed statement. “The objections were simply harassment and the hearings were a waste of taxpayer money.”

Mauter-Hollenbeck was not present at Thursday’s meeting.

The electoral board also postponed until Monday the hearing on an objection filed by resident Brian Burkross against the nomination of 5th Ward aldermanic challenger Gregory Sarlo.

Sarlo’s attorney challenged the findings of the Cook County Clerk’s Office after it verified signatures on Sarlo’s petition against its voter records.

Of the 72 signatures on Sarlo’s petition, 50 were unchallenged, but he needs 60 to be placed on the ballot.

Of the remaining 22 signatures, three were disqualified because the person had signed both Sarlo’s and incumbent 5th Ward Alderman Jim Brookman’s petitions. The county clerk’s report sustained objections on five other signatures and they were deemed invalid, electoral board chairman Mike Charewicz said.

The board will rule Monday on the remaining 14 signatures that have been challenged.

Sarlo’s attorney, Adam Salzman, provided affidavits from residents on 10 of those signatures. However, Burkross filed a motion to strike and dismiss those affidavits because the candidate did not follow the electoral board’s procedure and file the appropriate brief by a Tuesday deadline.

Sarlo was given until 5 p.m. Friday to respond to Burkross’ motion. Both parties were allowed to submit additional legal arguments by that time.

The hearing will resume at 10 a.m. Monday.