Aurora panel to hear objections against seven council candidates
Objections have been filed against seven of the 25 candidates running for Aurora City Council in the April election.
Ald. Daniel Barreiro, 1st Ward, filed an objection against his opponent, which, if approved, would leave him uncontested in his ward in the spring election. Other objections filed, if approved, could leave the race for the 8th Ward seat without a primary and the race for the 5th Ward spot with three fewer candidates.
The Aurora Electoral Board is set to hear the objections at 9 a.m. Monday in the council chambers at Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place.
Objections were filed against three candidates running for the 5th Ward City Council seat. Eight people filed petition sheets to run for the 5th Ward seat after the ward’s current alderman, Carl Franco, announced in July he would not run for reelection.
Three objections to those 5th Ward candidates were filed by Gregory Jackman, an Aurora resident from the 5th Ward, according to his filing. He claims that the nomination petition sheets submitted by candidates Andrea Jones, Kendala Coleman and Miguel Diaz were incomplete.
Jackman argues Jones failed to number her pages, did not name the office she was seeking and did not provide enough signatures. Sandra Schmitt, an Aurora resident from the 5th Ward, also objected to Jones, claiming that she did not number her petition sheets.
Jackman claims Coleman’s petition sheets did not specify the office she is seeking and that Diaz did not number the petition sheets and included invalid signatures that, if taken out, would put his petition signatures below the required number of signatures under Illinois election law. He also claims that Diaz did not file an economic interest statement as required.
Daniel Barreiro objected to Hugo Saltijeral, claiming his petitions contain signatures from people who also signed his petition sheets. Under Illinois election law, voters cannot sign nomination papers for more than one candidate per office.
Aurora resident Linda Grula objected to two candidates running against incumbent Patty Smith in the 8th Ward. Grula claims that candidates Jennifer Pazos and Tony Michelassi did not file enough valid signatures.
In the race for current at-large alderman Will White’s seat, at-large candidate Char Petersen objected to candidate David Smith. Petersen claims that two binding holes in Smith’s petition sheets caused the signatures and information on the sheets to be illegible. Peterson also claims a portion of Smith’s signatures are invalid. White is running for reelection after being appointed to the council in May 2025.
The consolidated election is scheduled for April 6, 2027, with a primary election set for Feb. 23, 2027, if needed.
The aldermanic seats up for grabs include the 1st Ward, 3rd Ward, 5th Ward, 6th Ward, 8th Ward and an at-large seat. Current council members Daniel Barreiro, 1st Ward; Ted Mesiacos, 3rd Ward; Michael Saville, 6th Ward; Patty Smith, 8th Ward; and Will White, at-large, have filed for reelection.
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