First day of primary filings brings bumper GOP crop
He had to climb out of his warm bed at the crack of dawn, but the effort was worth it for Chris Kachiroubas.
When DuPage Election Commission opened its doors at 8 a.m. Monday for candidates to file in the Feb. 5 primary, the DuPage County circuit clerk was first in line.
"High fives all the way down!" the Elmhurst Republican said, sailing past fellow early birds on his way out.
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Although it's unlikely he will face an opponent in the primary, "I take this very seriously," Kachiroubas said.
So did the other hopefuls submitting paperwork ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline.
"I was up at 5 a.m.," said District 4 DuPage County board member Debra Olson of Wheaton who was second in line.
She was joined by fellow Republican District 4 hopefuls Mary Dickson, a Wheaton attorney, and board member Grant Eckhoff.
Facing two incumbents presents a challenge, but "the support's been overwhelming," Dickson said.
Meanwhile Eckhoff, also a Wheaton attorney, was prepared for campaigning door to door in February.
"I've got some warm socks and hunter's pants," he said.
Adding variety to the mostly GOP crowd, was the Green Party's William Edgar.
Edgar, who is running for District 4, predicted this is the Green Party's year.
"We're got 20 to 30 committeemen filing," he said, noting it's a record.
Part of the unique atmosphere of early filing is that soon-to-be opponents find themselves nose to nose in line as was the case with Republican District 6 hopefuls Pam Fenner and Bob Larsen.
"This is better than filing in Springfield, where they make you stand out in the cold," said Fenner, a Carol Stream trustee.
Larsen didn't mind the proximity.
"We've got three good candidates," the Milton Township trustee said.
Incumbent District 6 board member Jim Zay was third in line. Asked when he woke up, Zay said, "I don't think I slept."
The atmosphere was jovial with no fisticuffs, which would have been unwise anyway with DuPage State's Attorney Joe Birkett, a Republican, keeping an eye on proceedings while waiting his turn.
"It's been pretty polite," Birkett said. "Lots of chatter."
Numerous other candidates got a jump on filing Monday. Two seats are open in each district. Hopefuls who filed Monday include:
bull; Republican District 1 incumbents Yolanda Campuzano and Paul Fichtner;
bull; Republican District 2 incumbent board members Pat O'Shea and Brien Sheahan;
bull; Republican District 3 candidates incumbent Tom Bennington, Woodridge Trustee John Curran and incumbent Michael McMahon;
bull; Republican District 5 candidates former Naperville Unit District 203 board member Jerry Cassioppi, incumbent board member Jim Healy and DuPage Regional school board Trustee Joe Wozniak.
GOP primaries are anticipated in all districts with the possible exception of District 1. In District 2, Lombard Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick intends to run but has not filed yet.
Republican auditor candidate Bob Grogan of Downers Grove also filed Monday, as didRepublican District 3 DuPage County Forest Preserve District candidates incumbent Wally Brown and Linda Painter, a pediatric nurse. One seat is open in the forest preserve race.
State outlook
In Springfield, hundreds of would-be lawmakers gathered to get their names on the ballot.
As expected, Republican primary contests are emerging with the pending retirement of state Reps. Jim Meyer and Joe Dunn.
Republicans seeking to fill the shoes of Meyer in the 48th District who filed Monday are College of DuPage Trustee Dave Carlin of Naperville, DuPage County Board member Michael Connelly of Lisle and Naperville City Councilman Doug Krause.
Candidates vying for Dunn's spot in the 96 District who filed today are Republican Naperville City Councilman Darlene Senger and Democrat Dianne McGuire of Naperville.