Challenge still possible in DuPage board race

Joe Wozniak is still mulling whether to challenge the results of his DuPage County Board race against incumbent John Zediker.

There are 116 votes separating the two who were vying for the Republican nomination in District 5.

All 125 precincts have reported their results. Of the 12,514 votes counted Tuesday, Zediker received 50.46 percent and Wozniak received 49.54 percent.

Wozniak said he wants to review the vote totals in each precinct and also find out if there are a significant number of absentee or provisional ballots. He also wants to explore whether any problems occurred during counting because he felt results from several precincts came in slowly.

"I have to see if I have a reasonable opportunity to regain some votes," he said.

Asked about the potential challenge, Zediker said, "With almost a 1 percent margin we'd probably be OK, but I respect Joe's decision either way."

Doreen Nelson, assistant executive director of the DuPage County Election Commission, confirmed there may still be some votes to count in the District 5 race.

Officials will begin investigating more than 200 provisional Republican ballots today, although Nelson did not know how many include the District 5 race. In addition, the commission will be going through a reconciliation process today to make sure no ballots were uncounted or double counted.

For the next two weeks, the commission can also accept absentee ballots that were postmarked before the election. Nelson estimates there will be about 30.

The commission has until Feb. 23 to certify the election results. Wozniak would then have five business days to file a petition for discovery if he wants to challenge those results. He would be able to look at up to 25 percent of the precincts in his district.

District 5 includes all or parts of Naperville, Aurora, Lisle, Woodridge and Warrenville. The Republican winner will face Democrat Brian Duewel in the November election.