Aurora aldermanic candidate removed from ballot

The electoral board of the Aurora Election Commission voted Wednesday to remove Matt Harrington from the spring ballot, leaving three candidates in the race for alderman-at-large.

The board voted to sustain the challenge against Harrington, finding he had not lived in Aurora for an entire year before the filing period, which lasted from Nov. 15 to 22, said Linda Fechner, the election commission's executive director.

Harrington did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The board heard a total of four challenges to Aurora candidates Wednesday afternoon in a public session that lasted nearly five hours. Three questioned the ability of alderman-at-large candidates to remain on the ballot, while the fourth challenged a candidate for the sixth ward seat.

Peggy Hicks, of the Illinois Coalition for Community Services, a nonprofit group focused on helping people determine the direction of their communities, filed two of the challenges, contesting Harrington and alderman-at-large candidate Judd Lofchie.

Lofchie and current alderman-at-large Richard C. Irvin withstood challenges and remain on the ballot.

Sixth ward candidate Isaac Count De Money Wilson also will remain on the ballot, despite a challenge from his opponent, current sixth ward Alderman Mike Saville, against Wilson's name, some of the signatures on his petitions and the formatting of his paperwork.

“I'm just glad the committee ruled in a manner that was fair and just,” Wilson said.