Addison Twp. assessor candidate booted from ballot

Membership may have its privileges some places, but apparently not on a ballot.

Addison Township Clerk Pamela Moretti booted Democratic assessor candidate Brian Guimon from the ballot because he provided only a letter of membership to the Appraisal Institute, not certification. Moretti says membership is not good enough to prove the Elmhurst resident is qualified for the post.

Guimon's lawyer, Dan Johnson-Weinberger, disagrees with Moretti's call and is demanding his client's name reappear on the April 7 ballot.

"It's a mistake by the township clerk not to certify his candidacy," Johnson-Weinberger said. "We're hoping she rectifies the mistake."

The assessor's job is the only township post where candidates are required to provide proof they are qualified to hold the post. There are about six different certifications available, but candidates need only one, according to state law.

Johnson-Weinberger said Guimon holds the proper certification, and Moretti signed off on his paperwork when he filed Jan. 23. Moretti said accepting the papers is not the same as inspecting and approving them.

Moretti said she checked with the township's lawyer before rejecting Guimon's paperwork earlier this month. She said the lack of certification is a "fatal flaw" to his nominating papers and she has the power to make that decision.

Several other DuPage County township clerks said they would have done the same thing as Moretti.

"I don't think I'd accept mere membership in an association," said Winfield Township Clerk Cliff Brown. "Since there are different levels of certification, I would need to see the specific qualifications of the candidate."

Every elected official from all nine DuPage townships is Republican. Guimon was part of the only Democratic slate in DuPage challenging every township office. Guimon is attempting to unseat incumbent Christopher Kain.

Johnson-Weinberger said the next step would be to file a lawsuit if Moretti fails to reinstate Guimon.