Des Plaines aldermanic candidate removed from ballot over signatures
The race for 1st Ward alderman in Des Plaines is down to two contestants.
Brian Kowalkowski’s name will not appear on ballots for April 1 election because his candidate petition doesn’t contain enough valid signatures of qualified 1st Ward residents, a three-member electoral board has ruled.
The same electoral board also rejected an attempt to knock another 1st Ward candidate, Margaret Chlebek, off the ballot. Chlebek and current City Clerk Jessica Mastalski remain in the race.
The electoral board — comprised of Mayor Andrew Goczkowski, 5th Ward Alderman Carla Brookman and 4th Ward Alderman Dick Sayad — delivered its rulings Friday afternoon.
Kowalkowski’s petitions faced two legal challenges — one from Mastalski and one from current 1st Ward Alderman Mark Lysakowski. Lysakowski is unable to run for the seat again because of local term limits.
Lysakowski withdrew his challenge to Kowalkowski’s candidacy before Friday’s hearing. Mastalski’s complaint went forward, however, and she proved successful in getting Kowalkowski removed from contention.
Mastalski also formally objected to Chlebek’s candidacy, questioning whether she lived in Des Plaines and whether she was present when people signed her petition. After evidence of Chlebek’s residency in Des Plaines and the circumstances of her petition gathering efforts was presented, the electoral board unanimously rejected the complaints.
Outside the 1st Ward, three other council seats will be up for election next year, as will the mayor and city clerk.
In the 3rd Ward, incumbent Sean Oskerka is being challenged by Debra Lester.
In the 5th Ward, Thomas A. Merlin and Michael Hardiman are running for an open seat. Brookman can’t run again because of term limits and is instead running for clerk against Dominik Bronakowski.
In the 7th Ward, incumbent Patsy Smith is being challenged by Bob Porada.
Goczkowski is running unopposed for a second term as mayor.