A few surprises pop up in Lake County on last day of candidate filing

Democratic state Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan has a primary challenger for the first time since being elected to his 30th District seat in 1996.

Meanwhile, incumbent Lake County Board member Robert "Bob" Powers of Round Lake Beach is running to retain his 16th District seat against the wife of a retired circuit court judge.

Those are two of the surprises that turned up Monday on the last day for candidates to file election petitions to get on the Feb. 5 ballot.

In what likely will be one of the higher-profile races, Link's challenger is former North Chicago Mayor Jerry L. Johnson.

Link, who also serves as the head of the Lake County Democratic Party, said his camp is reviewing Johnson's petition to ensure the signatures are legal.

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"It would be wrong to let someone on the ballot who isn't legal," he said. "But, if his petitions are legal, all I have to say is I'm running for re-election on my record. With this being a primary, no one could possibly question my Democratic credentials."

Johnson was unavailable for comment Monday.

The winners of the respective primaries will face off in the November 2008 general election.

On the Lake County Board, Powers will be challenged in the Republican primary by Jeanne Goshgarian, the wife of former Circuit Court Judge John Goshgarian, who retired from the bench in 2004. This is her first time running for the county board.

The 8th Congressional District features a pair of contested primaries.

Democrats will choose between incumbent Melissa Bean of Barrington and challenger Randi Scheurer of Lindenhurst.

The Republican primary features a three-way battle between Kenneth Arnold of Gurnee, Steve Greenberg of Long Grove and Kirk Morris of Gurnee.

Moderate party nominee Iain Abernathy of Round Lake Beach also has filed the required signatures to get on the ballot, but he won't have an opponent in the primary.

A key legislative race pits incumbent state Rep. Eddie Washington, Lake County Board member Angelo Kyle and political newcomer Tony Elam, all Democrats, for the 60th House District seat.

Voters will find Kyle's name listed in two ballot spots -- he also is looking to retain his Lake County District 12 board seat against primary challenger Kenneth Robinson of Waukegan.