Fire destroys office of Harvey mayoral candidate

HARVEY, Ill. (AP) - A fire has destroyed the campaign headquarters of a candidate running for mayor in the Chicago suburb of Harvey, and investigators say they're looking into whether it was intentionally set.

Friday's fire gutted the offices of Albert Abney, a Navy reservist and Veterans Affairs employee who is one of six candidates challenging incumbent Mayor Eric Kellogg.

Abner believes the fire was political retribution by someone trying to keep him from running in the April 7 election.

The day before, Abner says, vandals spray-painted "leave" on the building.

Harvey police detective Gregory Thomas tells WLS TV that investigators "are taking the approach that this could be some political retaliation from some candidate who's running against him."

U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms spokesman Thomas Ahern says the fire appears suspicious.