State board knocks 8th District candidate off ballot

U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean won't have to worry about a Democratic primary opponent as she seeks re-election to a fourth term in 2010.

The man seeking to challenge Bean in the Feb. 2 primary for the 8th District seat, Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock, was knocked off the ballot Wednesday by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The panel ruled Farnick did not have enough legitimate signatures on his candidate petition, which invalidated his application, Executive Director Dan White said.

It's the third time in as many years that a Farnick congressional campaign fell short.

Farnick briefly toyed with a bid in 2007 but dropped out before the 2008 primary. Farnick's candidate petition was challenged then, too, and he told the Daily Herald at the time he dropped out because he believed the challenge would be upheld.

Farnick also unsuccessfully ran as a write-in candidate for Bean's seat in the 2006 general election.

Farnick said he was disappointed by this latest setback.

"The people of the eighth district are now given no choice in the upcoming Democratic primary, a very undemocratic proposition at best," Farnick said. "All I wanted to give the people was an option."

A Bean spokesman refused to comment.

Six Republicans and a Green Party candidate are seeking to unseat Bean.

The Republicans are: Dirk W. Beveridge of Barrington, John Dawson of Barrington, Christopher Geissler of Barrington, Gregory Jacobs of Mundelein, Maria Rodriguez of Long Grove and Joe Walsh of Winnetka.

Republican voters will choose their party's candidate on Feb. 2. The winner will face Bean in November. Perennial candidate Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst is set to be the Green Party's nominee for the seat, but his candidacy has been challenged, too.

The elections board has not yet resolved his case.

The 8th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.