Forte-Scott gets secound bite at GOP campaign

Republican Anita Forte-Scott will get a second chance at running for state Rep. Paul Froehlich's seat despite a challenge from her own party.

The state board of elections commission ruled Thursday that fraud allegations against Forte-Scott's petitions were unfounded.

Forte-Scott ran against Froehlich and lost last year with the backing of the Illinois House Republican organization. This time she is running against it, challenging Schaumburg attorney Ryan Higgins, who has the backing of the state and local GOP organization.

Forte-Scott turned in petitions to get on the ballot this fall that included forms dated for the 2008 election. Objectors to the petitions said that was fraud and that the signatures were from the previous election.

But Forte-Scott's attorney said that only the forms were old, not the signatures.

"We thought the allegations of fraud where substantial," said House Republican campaign strategist Kevin Artl. "The state board didn't agree."

Froehlich, a Schaumburg Democrat, is not seeking re-election. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg is unopposed in the Democrat primary.