Special primary to replace Hastert will be same day as regular primary

Voters in the 14th Congressional District will have the opportunity to cast two ballots Feb. 5, the governor announced Monday.

One will allow them to nominate a candidate to fulfill the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert's term and the other will allow them to nominate a candidate to succeed him.

In scheduling the special primary election the same day as the regular primary, Gov. Rod Blagojevich honored Hastert's request to minimize inconvenience -- and expense -- to voters.

"It's not a (cost) savings, but it's better than having two elections" on different days, said Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham. "It would be twice as expensive."

But the simultaneous elections could cause confusion at the polls, Cunningham pointed out. It also is likely to result in longer lines.

More than half of the voters in the 14th Congressional District live in Kane County. The district also includes parts of Henry, Bureau, Whiteside, Lee, DeKalb, Kendall and DuPage counties.

Holding a special election in Kane County will cost an estimated $400,000, according to Cunningham. Combined with cost estimates provided by other election officials, the total cost of having a special election on Feb. 5 could top $1 million.

The Republican and Democratic nominees determined by the special primary election will compete in a special general election March 8 -- which is a Saturday. That winner will fulfill the remaining 10 months of Hastert's term.

It's possible voters could elect a different candidate to succeed Hastert when the general election takes place Nov. 4, 2008. Congressmen are elected to two-year terms.

Candidates seeking to compete in the special election can begin circulating their petitions immediately. Filing could begin Dec. 10 and the objection period could begin Dec. 17. The Illinois State Board of Elections is expected to officially set those dates when it meets Thursday.

Even those candidates already running in the regular primary must submit new paperwork to run in the special primary.

It's unclear whether voters can vote for a candidate from one party in the special and a different party in the regular primary, said Dan White, executive director of the state board.

"That's a good question and we think that is permissable," White said. "I think we need to take a good hard look at that."

Republican candidates for the regular primary are dairy magnate and businessman Jim Oberweis, state Sen. Chris Lauzen, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and dark horse Michael Dilger. Democratic candidates are Geneva scientist Bill Foster, U.S. Navy veteran and carpenter John Laesch, St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein, and Geneva resident Joe Serra.

Most have indicated they plan to run in the special election as well.