DuPage GOP challenges all new Democratic candidates

DuPage County Republicans are challenging the candidacies of all seven Democrats who were recently slated to fill holes on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Villa Park village board member Tom Cullerton's bid to unseat longtime Republican state Sen. Carole Pankau also is being challenged.

Cullerton said he is certain his paperwork is in order and has not received official notification from the state as to what portion of his campaign documents are being challenged.

DuPage Democrats slated candidates to run for recorder of deeds, circuit court clerk, three county board spots and two forest preserve board seats earlier this month.

Officials from the county's election commission said Republican Circuit Court Clerk Chris Kachiroubas filed objections to all the candidates Monday, the last day to do so. Local GOP leaders said Kachiroubas filed the objections at their behest.

Kachiroubas was out of the state Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.

DuPage GOP Vice Chairman Pat Durante claims the Democrats did not register a required nominating committee, so the nominations are invalid. The GOP is challenging only Democrats, not Green Party candidates.

"Only because the Green Party never exaggerates their majority or how big they are," Durante said. "It's not retribution; it's just saying that if the Democratic Party is now claiming they are the majority party, then act like you're the majority and do what you're supposed to do legally and follow the law."

DuPage Democratic Party Chairman Bob Peickert said the county GOP is wasting time and taxpayer money.

"It's obviously desperation on their part," he said. "The Republicans will do anything to squelch the democratic process."

Hearings on the objections will likely be held in the near future, said Doreen Nelson, assistant executive director of the DuPage Election Commission. State officials said the same thing about the objection to Cullerton's candidacy.

But there is no immediate timeline for a decision because ballots aren't printed until late summer or early fall, state officials said.