Shoemaker stays on ballot, will face Martinez in March primary

Aurora Township Highway Commissioner John Shoemaker gets to stay in the Democratic primary for Kane County coroner.

The Kane County Electoral Board Tuesday overruled objections to his nominating petitions, statement of candidacy and statement of economic interest.

Shoemaker faces Thomas "Tao" Martinez of North Aurora on the March ballot. The winner will face either current coroner Rob Russell of St. Charles or Dr. Bob Tiballi of Elgin in the general election.

Sixto Ojeda of Aurora filed the objections. He said the statements contained technical errors that invalidated them. The board overruled those objections.

He also questioned the validity of 256 of the 581 signatures on Shoemaker's petitions.

The board ruled that almost 200 of the signatures were not valid for various reasons. That left Shoemaker with 381 signatures, 12 more than needed.

Martinez ran against Russell in 2012. At the time, Martinez endorsed Republican Chris Lauzen for Kane County Board chairman, and the Kane County Conservative Coalition - which usually endorses Republicans - endorsed Martinez.

Lauzen and Russell have been at odds the last three years about the budget for the coroner's office, and the coroner's spending.

The electoral board consisted of Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon; Suzanne Fahnestock, chief deputy county clerk and director of elections; and Kristy Sharpness, executive assistant to Kane County Circuit Court Clerk Thomas Hartwell. Hartwell recused himself from the case, because Martinez is a client of his law firm.