Unincorporated resident won't appear on Naperville mayoral ballot
The name of the Naperville mayoral candidate who withdrew from the race late last week will not appear on the ballot, an election panel ruled Monday.
Matthew J. Dubiel is not eligible to appear on the ballot for Naperville mayor because he does not live within Naperville's city limits, the Municipal Officers Electoral Board ruled.
Dubiel's candidacy was challenged by three Naperville residents who filed objections with the city clerk's office. The objections were evaluated at Monday's hearing. Two were upheld but a third was denied because the objector did not attend the hearing.
The decision means a primary election will not be necessary in the race for Naperville mayor, which now is a four-person competition between city council members Steve Chirico and Doug Krause, dental office manager James Haselhorst and retired firefighter and Exchange Club official Marty Walker. If Dubiel, a 38-year-old radio station owner, had been allowed on the ballot, a five-person race would have required a primary in February.
The mayor's race now will be decided April 7, and after it, Naperville will have a leader other than George Pradel for the first time in 20 years. Krause will appear first on the ballot, followed by Walker, Haselhorst and Chirico.
City officials said Monday's electoral board hearing was necessary to follow proper election procedure even though Dubiel announced on Friday his intent to withdraw from the race.
In a statement sent by email, Dubiel said he was advised by his attorney "that a legal loophole prevents me from ultimately remaining on the ballot."
"While my family's connection to the city of Naperville and its surrounding environs is real and genuine," Dubiel wrote in the statement, he realized last week he had no chance of remaining on the ballot.
Objectors to Dubiel's candidacy said documents from the Will County supervisor of assessments, tax collector and the city of Naperville's planning and zoning department show that his address was not within the incorporated boundaries of Naperville.