DuPage election board to Kachiroubas: You're too late

DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk Chris Kachiroubas says he may have been out of breath when he filed objections to seven Democratic candidates, but he wasn't out of time.

"I was on a dead sprint from my office," Kachiroubas said today. "I was waiting at the counter and the supervisor was on the phone. I believe I was there, in my heart, on time."

The time stamp on the objections read 4:40 p.m.; the filing deadline was 4:30 p.m. Monday, said Doreen Nelson, the DuPage Election Commission's assistant executive director.

Nelson said a letter was mailed to Kachiroubas Thursday officially notifying him that they were rejecting his objections because of the late time stamp.

She said the employee who handled the objections told her that Kachiroubas "was not in the office before 4:30."

Kachiroubas said he doesn't wear a watch and wasn't sure what time he arrived at the election commission offices, but was sure it was before 4:30 p.m. He also said he couldn't estimate how long he waited to be processed after arriving at the office.

Nelson said Republicans will have to go to court if they want to pursue the objections.

"We're going to fight it," said DuPage GOP Vice Chairman Pat Durante. "Until someone tells me to fold my tent, I'm not folding my tent."

Kachiroubas filed the objections to the seven Democrats who filed earlier this month to run for his job, the recorder of deeds office, three county board seats and two forest preserve board posts.

The objections were filed on Monday -- the last day of the seven-day objection-filing period. The Republicans contend the seven Democrats weren't properly nominated through a registered committee.

Kachiroubas said he waited until the last minute to file the objections because it took that long for party lawyers to make sure their protests were in order.

"We wanted to make sure the foundation of our complaint is accurate, so it took us to the last moment to do it," he said.

DuPage Democratic Party Chairman Bob Peickert took the news in stride, acknowledging that the Republicans hadn't conceded.

"I heard they filed late, but I still think it's possible they'll challenge," he said. "You know, Pat Durante said we should know the law and follow it, so Pat should, too. Maybe Pat and I should get together and study."