Two DuPage candidates withdraw from the primary

Two candidates have dropped out of DuPage County's March primary after opponents raised doubts about their nominating papers.

Moon Khan and John Allen said they decided to end their candidacies instead of trying to fight claims that they didn't have enough valid signatures to qualify for spots on the March 15 primary ballot.

Khan, a Democrat from Lombard, was hoping to seek his party's nomination to face DuPage County Recorder Fred Bucholz during the November general election.

But Tim Zoellner of Lombard filed a complaint claiming Khan didn't have the 844 valid signatures he needed.

To refute Zoellner's claim before the county's electoral board, Khan said, he would have had to hire an attorney "and waste thousands of my personal money because the other side is already using a high-priced lawyer."

Khan said he was shocked that his nominating petitions were challenged in the first place. "If the incumbent's performance and popularity are so powerful, he should not hide behind the technical shenanigans," Khan said.

With Khan's name removed from the primary ballot, DuPage's Democratic organization can pick a recorder candidate to run in the general election. That candidate still would need to gather enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot.

Allen, meanwhile, said he dropped out of the District 4 county board race after discovering he didn't have the 145 valid signatures required to appear on the Republican primary ballot.

"When I was able to look at the packet, I realized that I didn't have as many valid signatures as I thought," the Wheaton resident said.

As a result, the GOP primary race for a 4-year seat will remain a two-person contest with Glen Ellyn Trustee Timothy Elliott facing attorney Michelle Moore. The winner of that primary is expected to face Democrat Khizar Jafri of Wheaton.

District 4 includes all or parts of Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Lisle, Lombard, Wheaton and Winfield.