Obama foe targeting judge hopeful, others, over birth certificates

A Barrington Hills woman who unsuccessfully challenged the presidency of Barack Obama over his failure to provide a birth certificate to state election authorities is now setting her sights on a bit of a lesser known candidate: McHenry County judge hopeful Sally Oeffling Wiggins.

Wiggins is one of 31 independent and third-party candidates whose nominating petitions are facing a challenge from Sharon Ann Meroni.

The challenges claim the candidates' nominating papers are "insufficient because they fail to demonstrate and/or provide documentation that the candidate meets constitutional requirements for office."

Meroni's challenge to Wiggins stems from her not including a copy of her official birth certificate with her nominating papers, the judicial candidate said.

Wiggins, who is running as an independent for a newly created circuit judge seat in McHenry County's 22nd Judicial Circuit, said she is willing to provide her birth certificate to Meroni ahead of a scheduled hearing Monday morning before county's electoral board.

"I make no judgment about the merit of Ms. Meroni's objection seeking proof that I am a United States Citizen," the Woodstock resident said. "Right or wrong, she is pursuing a cause that she believes in. I would like to resolve the issue the quickest and most efficient way possible, however, with the hope of not burdening taxpayers with the expense of conducting a hearing here in McHenry County and thereby allow us to focus on the Nov. 2 election."

For now the electoral board - consisting of County Clerk Katherine Schultz, Circuit Clerk Katherine Keefe and a representative of the McHenry County State's Attorney - is set to meet at 10 a.m. Monday to review Meroni's objection.

Meroni said Thursday she has no reason to suspect Wiggins was born outside the U.S., but disagrees with Illinois law that allows candidates to run for office without proving their eligibility.

"Right now my ballot is left to the luck of the draw whether candidates are U.S. citizens who are eligible to hold office," she said. "Who knows who's eligible if they just don't ask?"

In January, McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather denied Meroni's request for a special grand jury to investigate whether Obama is a citizen eligible to hold office. Prather ruled there is no basis in law to grant her request.

If she remains on the ballot, Wiggins will face Republican Judge Gordon Graham in the November general election.