Prospect Heights hopefuls challenging one another's candidacies
Prospect Heights mayoral hopeful Nicholas Helmer is challenging the candidacy of one of his opponents, while incumbent Alderman Richard Hamen and his opponent filed cross objections aimed at disqualifying one another from the spring election.
Those are among the several challenges the city's electoral board will review at 2 p.m. Wednesday in city hall to determine who does and does not belong on the April 5 ballot.
Helmer said he is challenging whether fellow candidate Kurt U. Giehler has enough valid signatures on his nominating petitions to secure a place on the ballot. In the filing against Giehler, Helmer charges there are invalid signatures, including suspected forgeries that appear similar to signatures one or more above or below it on nominating documents.
The challenge also claims some of Giehler's signers had also signed either Vole's or Helmer's petitions.
Giehler defended his petitions Friday, saying they were circulated only by himself and a precinct captain who should know the rules. He doubts there is much chance of irregularities, especially of people signing others' names.
Helmer and Giehler have filed to run next year against incumbent Mayor Dolly Vole in what's currently a three-way race. Vole defeated Helmer for the mayor's office in 2009, while Giehler unsuccessfully sought the post in 2007.
“The choice should be between Dolly Vole and myself,” Helmer said Friday. “Kurt Giehler hasn't been to any city council meetings in the last four years and has no concept or knowledge of what's going on. He's not qualified to hold that office.”
Giehler said he had no animosity toward either of his opponents.
“What's wrong with having three candidates and letting the voters decide?” he said. “I am absolutely qualified.”
Helmer said he also looked at Vole's signatures for irregularities, but they seemed in order.
In the city's First Ward, former alderman Luis Mendez filed a challenge claiming Hamen is not a resident of the address where he is registered to vote.
Hamen, who defeated Mendez for the seat four years ago, disputed the claim, saying he meets residency requirements.
His filing against Mendez said the challenger does not have enough valid signatures, did not file a certification of deletions after crossing off names and might not have actually signed his statement of candidacy. Mendez said it is his signature on the document.
The electoral board on Wednesday also will review eight challenges that claim Fourth Ward Alderman Gerald T. Anderson did not number his petition sheets as required before filing.
Anderson is no stranger to challenges. In 1999, a challenge kept him off the ballot for mayor. He later won a write-in race, but then lost the contest after a court challenge disqualified some of his votes.
He could not be reached for comment Friday.