Rauschenberger a Democrat? Primary ballot could thwart comeback

Republican veteran Steve Rauschenberger's attempt to take back his Elgin-based state Senate seat is under threat because he may not be Republican enough.

In the latest bizarre chapter of Illinois' thick history of kicking candidates off the ballot, Rauschenberger could lose his spot in the GOP primary because he pulled a Democratic ballot for February's local elections.

"It disgusts me," said Rauschenberger, who served in the Senate's 22nd District for 14 years as a Republican, twice ran for statewide office in GOP primaries and now heads a conservative fundraising organization.

Meanwhile, with Rauschenberger's position for the Feb. 2 in contention, three Republicans filed Thursday as write-in candidates, including Kane County Recorder of Deeds Sandy Wegman.

The blow to Rauschenberger's comeback bid came Wednesday when an election hearing officer ruled in favor of a Democratic challenge to his candidacy on the grounds that he is not a "qualified primary voter."

That is because Rauschenberger pulled a Democratic ballot in April's primary to support his sister's bid for a trustee post in Elgin Township.

The theory goes that because Rauschenberger most recently voted Democratic, he can't legitimately run as a Republican in the primary.

Ironically, the wrinkle in Illinois law came about partly because a suburban Republican incumbent challenged a Democratic opponent's party credentials in a 2008 general election race.

Rauschenberger acknowledged Thursday he is being targeted by a stealthy campaign weapon crafted by his own party. But he contends it is still wrong.

"I don't care who does the trickery, none of this is good," said the Elgin native, who has been out of office since his failed lieutenant governor primary bid in 2006.

But Rauschenberger isn't off the ballot just yet.

"It ain't over," said Rauschenberger's election attorney Burt Odelson.

It will take five votes from the state election commission next week to officially kick him off the ballot, which will require at least one Republican member to side with four Democrats.

Then the case is likely to end up in the courts either way, probably delaying the final decision to just weeks or days before the primary.

Meanwhile, Rauschenberger's ability to later be slated by the party to run in the general election is threatened by the entry of Wegman as a write-in candidate.

A write-in candidate who wins with more than 1,000 votes will secure the GOP banner in the race against Noland.

Wegman filed her letter of intent late Thursday, saying she "wanted to make sure the party had coverage."

Elgin Township Clerk Kurt Kojzarek and Elgin attorney Jeff Meyer also filed. Rauschenberger said he encouraged those two candidates to file. If he is scrubbed from the ballot, he could theoretically ask one of them to step aside after the primary so he could be slated.

"Both are supporters of mine and we will work after the primary to be sure the Republican nominee is someone with the best chance of winning," Rauschenberger said of Kojzarek and Meyer.

But Rauschenberger didn't ask Wegman. The two ran against each other in the 2006 lieutenant governor's race.

"I'm surprised and disappointed that Sandy filed," he said. "I'm not sure who she is talking to."

Wegman declined to address Rauschenberger, but the three-term Republican county official said she is "a party person" who is a "hard campaigner."

Michael Kasper, an attorney for the Illinois Democratic Party, declined to comment.