Villa Park candidate loses appeal to get on ballot

Villa Park resident Brian Anderson lost his case in DuPage County Circuit Court to get back on the April 7 ballot as a village trustee candidate.

A DuPage County judge ruled Anderson's appeal lacked jurisdiction because it failed to name objector Richard Illian as a defendant, and dismissed his case, said attorney Charles Emery, who represented Anderson.

"It's a technical thing," Emery said.

Anderson said Friday that he is running as a write-in candidate.

"I'm doing it because I think I can make a difference in the community," Anderson said. "I really want to serve the residents of Villa Park. This is just one more challenge I'll have to overcome. The race is on."

A Villa Park election panel voted to remove Anderson from the ballot for failing to obtain the minimum number of required signatures. Trustee Richard Illian, who is running for re-election, filed a complaint contending several of Anderson's signatures were invalid because they came from people who didn't live within the village's corporate limits.

Anderson had appealed on the grounds that Illian's objection failed to meet statutory regulations because it did not specifically state the desired remedy.

The Villa Park election panel sided with Illian, contending the fact that he filed the objection means he wants Anderson off the ballot.

If Anderson runs as a write-in, he will face Illian, Trustee John Davis, Deborah Bullwinkle, Greg Hassler and Robert Taglia for the three 4-year trustee seats available.