GOP appeal seeks to knock Libertarian off ballot

SPRINGFIELD - A Sangamon County judge is considering an appeal by Republican attorneys to remove a Libertarian candidate for Illinois governor from the November ballot.

Circuit Judge Patrick Kelley heard arguments Wednesday in Springfield over the appeal, in which the GOP attorneys question the validity of the voter signatures Chad Grimm, a Lake Zurich High School alumnus now living in Peoria, gathered to get on the ballot. Grimm could draw votes that otherwise would go to Republican candidate Bruce Rauner.

Attorneys representing the Libertarians had asked a judge to dismiss the case, arguing the Sangamon County court did not have proper jurisdiction. The court overruled that motion on the grounds that the State Board of Elections meeting was held via video conference in Springfield as well as in Chicago.

The State Board of Elections decided last month to allow Grimm to appear on the ballot alongside Rauner and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

At the same time, the board ruled that Green Party, Constitution and Independent candidates should not be included on the ballot because the parties gathered too few valid signatures. Democratic Party attorneys had challenged the validity of the signatures for the Green candidate, who could have taken votes away from Quinn.