Six out of eight Pingree Grove candidates face challenges

Let the election drama begin in Pingree Grove.

A whopping six out of eight candidates in the tiny village face petition challenges that could knock them off the spring ballot.

Village officials say they can't remember a time when there was this many objections.

Incumbent Trustee Ricky Popilek lodged the most challenges, seeking to remove three candidates: Trustee Richard Stramaglia, former Trustee Jon Peschke and Patrick Whalen, who previously ran for village president and placed third out of three in the race.

Popilek said he hadn't intended to file any objections at all.

But when a Stramaglia challenge came in midday Monday- the last day to file an objection- Popilek snapped into action, fearing his documents would be called into question as well.

They never were.

"If people were going to be looking at technicalities, then I should also look at technicalities myself," Popilek said. "I'm not excited about doing this."

According to documents, Popilek alleges that:

• Stramaglia failed to properly complete his statement of economic interest.

• Four people who signed Stramaglia's petitions did not provide complete information.

• One of the signers also signed Popilek's documents.

As for Peschke, Popilek charges that his forms were not completely filled out before seeking petitions, a conclusion he reached because, he said, it appears Peschke used two different kinds of ink on the forms.

Popilek also claims Peschke's documents are invalid because Peschke's wife, Carol, notarized them.

Finally, because Whalen failed to fill out portions of candidacy forms listing what office he was running for and when, it nullifies three pages of signatures, leaving him without enough to qualify for the four-year term, Popilek alleges.

Carol Peschke filed challenges against both of the men running against her husband for a two-year term on the board.

She alleges that challenger Larry Gillie incorrectly specified which office he was running for on his statement of candidacy form and statement of economic interest.

Carol Peschke also claims numerous faults with Charles Jackson's forms, including:

• Failing to properly state which seat he is running for on his statement of candidacy

• Failing to properly state which term he is running for on his statement of economic interest

• Twice using improper forms to declare himself an independent.

Jackson has been here before.

During the last election cycle, the Peschke family successfully challenged his candidacy, leaving him off the ballot.

Carol Peschke insists it has never been personal.

"The form is incorrect and it was not my problem if he did it wrong," she said.

Jackson could not be reached for comment.

Finally, Stramaglia alleges that challenger Joshua Cossiboon did not properly delete a name from his candidate's petition, nor did he attach the proper forms to remove that signature.

A hearing on the challenges is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Pingree Grove Village Hall. The village's three-member electoral board, which includes Village President Wyman "Clint" Carey, senior Trustee Steve Wiedmeyer and Village Clerk Michelle Figuerola, will make rulings on each case.

Greg Marston also is running for a four-year seat, but faces no challenges, nor is he seeking to invalidate anyone else's candidacy.