District 2 DuPage County Board race still not over

Two weeks after the Nov. 8 election, the race for a District 2 seat on the DuPage County Board race still isn't over - and it's closer than anyone imagined.

Democratic incumbent Elizabeth "Liz" Chaplin has overcome an Election Night deficit of more than 300 votes and now has 13 votes more than her Republican challenger Richard Blass, election officials said.

Chaplin has 36,612 votes, or 50.01 percent, and Blass has 36,599 votes, or 49.99 percent, according to unofficial totals.

"It's been a crazy couple of weeks," Chaplin said Monday. "I guess we're just going to have to wait until tomorrow and see what the final number is. Until then, we just sit tight and see how things go."

Election officials said they will be checking for mail-in votes through the end of the day Tuesday. There are also about 1,100 provisional ballots that still need to be counted.

Even though it appeared Blass had won the race, Chaplin had cautioned she received a large number of mail-in votes.

"In most races, it doesn't make a difference," she said. "But in our race, it really did."

On Monday, Blass said he's waiting for the final tally. "I don't think there's anything else I can really do," he said.

Blass hasn't decided if he will seek a recount if he loses.

"I will talk to my campaign manager once the numbers are out and ask him what he suggests," Blass said. "I'm assuming that's what Liz is going to do as well (if she loses)."

Both candidates said during the campaign that they would act independently on the GOP-dominated county board.

Chaplin, of Downers Grove, says she's been an independent voice since she was first elected in 2012.

Blass, who is an attorney, says he has his own independent ideas. He previously served as a trustee on both the Berkeley village and library boards.

The winner will serve a 2-year seat representing District 2, which covers all or parts of Lisle, Lombard, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park, Naperville, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Westmont and Woodridge.