Ingersoll survives petition challenge in St. Charles Township

Charles Ingersoll knew the odds were stacked against him from the onset of his decision to run as St. Charles Township assessor. He only hoped when the smoke cleared, the votes would be on his side. On Wednesday, at least, they were.

Ingersoll survived a challenge to his petitions by a 2 to 1 vote by a panel of judges. Barring any last-minute challenge in court, the ruling clears the way for Ingersoll's name to appear on April ballots opposite Colleen Lang.

The challenge was based mainly on a technicality that Ingersoll's petitions weren't valid because not all the paperwork was filed at the same time and the plastic binder they were contained in wasn't "secure" as required by statute. Two of the three judges ruled Ingersoll met all the necessary filing requirements, and voters should have a say at whether or not they want him to be their assessor.

Assuming Ingersoll does make the ballot now, his name will carry the additional obstacle of him being listed as an independent candidate. Ingersoll, visibly emotional following the ruling, said he knows that means he'll continue to have a target on his back all the way to the polls.

"This is a Republican stronghold that we're standing in the middle of," Ingersoll said. "They don't want someone coming into their Republican stronghold and challenging them. Even if I win I will have some struggles, but I'm not coming into this office to be combative with anybody."