Three candidates for Franklin Park Village Board still could be booted from the February ballot, after the local electoral board said they wouldn’t dismiss objections to the trio’s petitions during a hearing Feb. 2.
Franklin Park resident Randall Petersen filed objections against candidates Chris Litwin, Vicki Vanderhei and Ken Zurek of the Progress Through Lower Taxes party. Petersen alleged that the signature sheets circulated for those three candidates did not include the dates that signatures were collected.
During the hearing, Zurek argued that the objections filled by Petersen were “frivolous” and that “there is no case law in support of these objections.”
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The three-member electoral board saw it differently, denying Zurek’s request to throw out the objections. Joseph Cainker, attorney for Petersen, has until 5 p.m. Feb. 4 to write a brief supporting his objections. Zurek then has until 5 p.m. Feb. 6 to respond in writing.
The board will deal with the actual objections to the candidates at its next hearing at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 9. That takes place at the Franklin Park Police station, 9451 W. Belmont Ave. Their decision will determine whether the April 7 election is a contested one.
Even though the deadline has passed, the local electoral board has the authority to retain the names of Zurek, Vanderhei and Litwin on the ballot until it comes to a decision.
Also running for village trustee in Franklin Park are incumbents Cheryl McLean and William Ruhl and newcomer James Caporusso.