Apparently qualified Addison Twp. assessor hopeful off ballot

Brian Guimon's lawyer says his client is still the Democratic candidate for Addison Township assessor.

The ballot says something completely different.

Township Clerk Pamela Moretti booted Guimon from the ballot several days ago, saying his paperwork didn't contain the proper qualifications for the office. Guimon's attorney, Dan Johnson-Weinberger, even got an opinion from the Illinois Department of Revenue stating that Guimon is qualified, but that didn't sway Moretti. Guimon's name wasn't on the ballots being printed Monday to be shipped to voters and military personnel stationed overseas.

"I don't think there's anything I can do at this point," Moretti said. "It's out of my hands." DuPage County Election Commission officials said Guimon would have to go to court to get his name on the ballot, but Johnson-Weinberger believes Moretti can still make the call.

"She's accountable for her decision and she can certify the ballot anytime she wants," he said. "It's her mistake, so if she wants to correct her mistake she can."

The assessor's position is the only township post where candidates are required to prove they are trained and qualified for the job.

At issue is the letter from the Appraisal Institute Guimon submitted as part of his nominating paperwork. While it simply states he is a member in good standing with the organization, it also addresses him as a "senior residential analyst." That title is one of nearly a dozen professional designations approved by the Department of Revenue that qualify a person to run for an assessor's post.

Johnson-Weinberger said he didn't know what more proof Moretti required because there's no actual certificate Guimon received from the Appraisal Institute.

Moretti said the Republican candidate, incumbent Assessor Christopher Kain, submitted a letter with all his qualifications that was "certified by the Illinois Department of Revenue."

Johnson-Weinberger would not say whether he intended to pursue the issue in court. Instead he continued to attack Moretti's decision.

"She's the elected official up for election and she's got to consider if that's the record she wants to run on," he said.

If Guimon doesn't fight Moretti's decision in court, he would not be allowed to run as a write-in because he wasn't booted through the electoral process, election officials said.

However, other candidates removed from the ballot after an electoral board hearing have until March 31 to register as write-ins.