DuPage Democrats setting 2010 slate in hopes of loosening GOP hold
The DuPage County Democratic Party's attempt to loosen their Republican counterparts' stranglehold on countywide elected offices is beginning anew.
Party leaders have begun slating candidates for the open seats on the county board, forest preserve, and General Assembly that are up in 2010. Most races won't require a Democratic primary, but some could feature more than one candidate heading into the February primary.
DuPage Democratic Party Chairman Bob Peickert said most of the potential candidates have been interviewed by party leaders and have begun circulating nominating petitions. Candidates can begin submitting election paperwork to the DuPage Election Commission on Oct. 26 and they have until Nov. 2 to file.
Peickert is hoping for a repeat of the party's successes in November 2008 when three Democrats were elected to the county board for the first time since the 1970s. In April 2009 however, Republicans held on to all the partisan seats at the township level, despite one of the largest set of Democratic challengers in the past decade.
Nine Democrats could be running for the six open seats on the county board in 2010, Peickert said. Each of the six districts has one seat open.
District 1: Michael Childress, Kathy Salzano and Patrice Gallagher are all expected to file. Salzano is the only candidate with campaign experience as she ran unsuccessfully for Addison Township supervisor earlier this year.
District 2: York Township Democratic Organization Chairwoman Carol Davis could face off against party newcomer Cathy Sewell.
District 3: Karol Sole, who ran unsuccessfully for the county board last year and for Downers Grove Township highway commissioner in April, is the potential candidate. District 4: Tom Wendorf is seeking the seat after an unsuccessful bid for a College of DuPage post in April.
District 5: Brian Duewel is expected to run here.
District 6: Attorney Dave Barry is the likely candidate.
Peickert said the party has not picked a candidate to run for board chairman, while four Republicans are planning to square off in February for the GOP nomination.
Two West-Win Homeowners Association officials are seeking forest preserve seats. West-Win residents have been battling the forest preserve over plans to build a fleet services garage at near the neighborhood in Blackwell Forest Preserve. Dennis Clark is running for the board president's post occupied by longtime incumbent Dewey Pierotti, and Shannon Burns is seeking the District 6 seat. Eric Bergman and Don Kirchenberg could force a Democratic primary for the District 4 forest preserve seat. Hilary Denk is planning to run for the District 2 seat as well.
Of the nine state representative seats that cover parts of DuPage, eight Democrats so far have plans to challenge Republicans. LaGrange Park resident Brian Stephenson is expected to file for the District 41 house seat being vacated by Bob Biggins. Kay Vlahos of Downers Grove wants to challenge incumbent Sandy Pihos in District 42. Roselle resident Jim Hagerty is expected to renew his 2008 campaign against Franco Coladipietro in District 45.
Elmhurst Unit District 205 school board member Deb Conroy plans to challenge Dennis Reboletti for the District 47 seat. Jim Speta of Downers Grove is planning to run once again to unseat Patti Bellock in District 47. Hanover Park attorney Greg Brownfield is going after Randy Ramey's seat in District 55. Darien resident Matt Mostowik is seeking Jim Durkin's post in District 82. Newly elected Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board member Dawn DeSart will try to unseat rookie state Rep. Darlene Senger in the District 96 race.
No Democrat has announced plans to run against District 48 state Rep. Michael Connelly, but Peickert said to expect an announcement soon.
The Democrats have also recruited St. Charles Unit District 303 school board member Corinne Pierog to run against state Sen. John Milner. Pierog was elected to that school board seat in April.