Will Campton Hills candidates stay on ballot?

The Campton Hills electoral board will deliberate and decide Jan. 2 on a challenge against four people who filed petitions to run for village president and three trustee seats in April.

The board heard testimony and arguments Tuesday night, but did not make a decision.

Trustee Harry Blecker said Wednesday he'll run for village president as a write-in if he is removed from the ballot.

"Worst-case scenario is we have to do a write-in (campaign)," Blecker said. "We know we have enough support in the village to win a write-in campaign. It will be harder, but we can do it."

Village President Patsy Smith challenged the nominating petitions of Blecker and three others - Trustee Laura Anderson, Trustee Susan George and Mike O'Dwyer - who are seeking three village board seats.

Smith argues the four submitted their petitions for the wrong period - in November for a possible February primary - instead of this month for the April 2015 election.

No one turned in nomination petitions at village hall on Monday, which was the deadline for candidates in the April 7 municipal elections.

Smith, who has served nearly two, 4-year terms as president and helped incorporate the village in 2007, said she wants to wait to see what the electoral board does before seeking a third term.

"I am going to wait until I hear the ruling of the electoral board before I make a final decision," Smith said Wednesday. If she chooses to run, it will have to be as a write-in.

Village Attorney William Braithwaite said only a judge can extend the filing period for candidates, which ended Monday.

"(Monday's) deadline is absolute regardless of the decision of the electoral board," Braithwaite said. "Unless in some manner the court would extend it, which would be extraordinary."