DuPage candidates ready for election battles
For some, it was a networking opportunity.
For others, it was about showing they were serious about the job.
But for all of the nearly 70 candidates who showed up before dawn Monday to file nominating papers for a variety of offices in DuPage County, it was about getting their name atop the February primary election ballot.
"I'm expecting a challenge and even though both times before I won pretty handily, everything helps," said Dave Tornga, a Winfield Township Republican precinct committeeman. "It's also nice to meet all these people."
While most of the county's other precinct committeeman candidates were still sleeping, Tornga was hobnobbing with three of the four GOP county board chairman candidates as well as several candidates for county board and forest preserve commission.
He had plenty of time to hang out with Sheriff John Zaruba, who was first in line after arriving around 4:30 a.m.
"It's one big happy family here this morning," said state Sen. Dan Cronin, who is seeking the Republican nomination for county board chairman. "This is the DuPage leadership corps. I'm just glad we don't have to wait outside like they do in Springfield."
Candidates for the General Assembly and other statewide offices also registered Monday, but at the capitol building.
Cronin, county board member Debra Olson, state Sen. Carole Pankau and Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso are all hoping to win the Republican nomination for the chairman's seat after longtime Chairman Bob Schillerstrom announced plans to run for governor instead. Only Grasso wasn't in line in person Monday morning, but a proxy filed. Pankau was on hand, but decided to wait until Monday to file so she'll be last on the ballot.
Because three of the GOP chairman candidates' nominating papers were ready before the DuPage Election Commission's 8 a.m. opening, a lottery will be held at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 10 to set ballot order for the Feb. 2 primary. Lotteries will be held for Republican primaries in the District 3, District 5 and District 6 county board races, the sheriff's race as well as the District 2 and District 6 forest preserve commission races.
In all, 258 nominating petitions were filed today. Of those petitions, 234 were for precinct committeeman posts. The other 24 were for county races.
Candidates have until Nov. 2 to file at the election commission for county board chairman, six available county board seats, three forest preserve commission seats and for forest preserve president, county clerk, treasurer, sheriff, regional superintendent of schools and numerous precinct committeeman slots.
Election commission staff busied themselves Monday morning checking the nominating papers to ensure they conformed to mandated standards. Formal challenges to nominating papers end at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 9, election officials said.
Several incumbents could be facing primary challenges, based on Monday's turnout. District 5 county board member John Zediker, who was appointed earlier this year, will face fellow Republican Joe Wozniak of Naperville, who is currently on the regional school board. This is Wozniak's fourth attempt at a county board seat in 15 years.
"I hope to do it this time," he said. "I came pretty close last year. I have a lot of ideas about how to make this one of the best green counties in the country that I think voters want to see happen."
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=331921">Monday's DuPage County filing<span class="date"> [10/26/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>