Mount Prospect trustee candidates face petition challenges

Candidates for the Mount Prospect village board are fighting a battle over the legitimacy of their opponents’ nominating petitions.

As a result, a special meeting of the Mount Prospect Municipal Officers Electoral Board has been called for 10 a.m. Monday.

Four candidates are running for three four-year seats on the village board in the April 1 election. They include incumbent trustees John Matuszak and Terri Gens, and newcomers Beth DiPrima and Jeannie Lee-Macatangay.

On Monday, the electoral board will hear an objection to Lee-Macatangay’s petitions filed by Matuszak, as well as Lee-Macatangay’s objection to the petitions of Matuszak and DiPrima.

Candidates filed the nominating petitions earlier this month to secure a place on next year’s ballot.

In her complaint against Matuszak’s petitions, Lee-Macatangay, contends that one of his pages was not notarized, the other pages were not in consecutive order, and he does not have the required number of valid signatures.

She also contends that the way DiPrima’s name is listed on nominating petitions — Elizabeth (Beth) DiPrima — is different from the name on the statement of candidacy form, Elizabeth DiPrima.

Matuszak objected to Lee-Macatangay’s petitions on the grounds that they were not fastened together as required.