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Democrats slate four candidates for DuPage County races

DuPage County's Democratic organization doesn't want Republicans running unopposed this fall in county and forest preserve races.

As a result, the party has hand-picked candidates to run in the Nov. 8 election for DuPage auditor, clerk of the circuit court, forest preserve District 2 and a 2-year county board District 6 seat.

No Democrats ran for those positions during the March primary. But party officials were able to select candidates for the general election as long as each hopeful gathered enough signatures to get on the ballot.

The addition of the new candidates means DuPage will have 15 contested races at the countywide, county board and forest preserve level.

"We want voters to have an option of choosing new people or staying with the old," said Robert Peickert, chairman of the DuPage Democratic Party.

County Auditor Bob Grogan and Clerk of the Circuit Court Chris Kachiroubas both ran unopposed during the Republican primary.

Now Grogan could face Democrat Michelle Gale of Glendale Heights during the general election. Christopher English of Darien was chosen by the Democrats to challenge Kachiroubas.

Before the campaigns can start, though, it must be determined whether anyone will challenge the petitions filed by English, Gale and the other Democratic candidates.

Objections to any of the candidate's nominating paperwork must be filed by Tuesday.

Twelve of the 18 county board members are up for election in November. Six of the available seats are for 4-year terms. The rest are for 2-year terms.

Nine Democrats ran for 12 county board seats during the primary. Still, party leaders picked former county board member Lauren "Laurie" Nowak to challenge incumbent Republican Jim Zay for a 2-year District 6 seat on the board.

Peickert said Nowak initially was unsure about what she wanted to do after losing her county board seat in November 2014. "As things went on, she thought it would be a good idea to run again," he said.

District 6 includes all or parts of Aurora, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Naperville, Roselle, St. Charles, Warrenville, Wayne, West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield.

Meanwhile, Peickert's granddaughter - Kali Morgan Peickert of Lombard - wants to run against incumbent Jeff Redick for a District 2 seat on the DuPage County Forest Preserve District board.

District 2 covers all or portions of Addison, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Lisle, Lombard, Naperville, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park, Westmont and Woodridge.

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