Elgin council field narrowed

A controversial car wash owner has dropped out of the spring Elgin City Council race, narrowing the field to seven challengers seeking to unseat three incumbents.

Judith Colletti submitted her "withdrawal of candidacy" form Tuesday morning, City Clerk Diane Robertson said.

A day before that, Elgin resident Suzanne Smith challenged Colletti's nominating petitions, arguing in part that Colletti had not lived withing the city limits a year before the April 7, 2009, election.

Colletti, owner of the Elgin Car Wash, could not be reached for comment Tuesday and neither could Smith.

Last week, Colletti said she wanted the city to be more responsive to business owners if she was elected.

Colletti, who has been accused by the city of improperly channeling car wash chemicals into the storm sewer, did not believe her legal woes would hurt her campaign.

"I believe in Elgin no matter what happens," she said, maintaining she did nothing wrong and the city only turned off her water to be "vindictive."