2 Elgin City Council candidates disqualified after being found to not have met filing requirements

Two Elgin City Council candidates have lost their spots on the April 2027 ballot, including five-term council member John Steffen.

Steffen and Deborah K. Willis were both initially listed among nine candidates released Tuesday on the city’s website following the petition filing deadline at 5 p.m. Monday.

Steffen was to be part of a lottery for ballot placement scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.

On Friday, the city’s post had been updated “to reflect changes in candidate status following the nominating petition review process.” Steffen and Willis are no longer listed as candidates.

Elgin Communications & Engagement Manager Josie Beecher-Crotty said in an email that “following a review of all nominating petitions filed for the office of councilmember in the 2027 City of Elgin municipal election, it was determined that certain petitions did not meet the filing requirements outlined in the Illinois Election Code.”

Messages left for Steffen and Willis were not immediately returned.

Steffen has served on the city council since 2007. In March, Willis ran in the Democratic primary for Kane County Board District 17 and lost to Deborah Allen.

rwest@dailyherald.com