Robert Godlewski is seeking to reverse the decision to put the five Citizens for Change Party candidates back on the April ballot in Franklin Park.
The party’s candidates are Cynthia Guerrero, who is running for village president; Michael A. LaCassa, who is running for village clerk; and Christopher Litwin, Diego DiMarco, and Frank Houswerth, who are running for village trustee. They are seeking to run against the Your Village Your Voice candidates — Barrett Pedersen (for village president), Irene Avitia (for village clerk) and Andy Ybarra, Karen Special and John Johnson (for village trustee).
Godlewski had filed objections to all five members of the Citizens for Change Party appearing on the April ballot earlier this year. His specific objections were that all five Citizens for Change Party candidates did not clearly state which village they were planning to run for elected office in and they did not properly fill out statements of economic interest. In January, the Franklin Park Election Board agreed with Godlewski and his attorney James Nally’s arguments and removed the Citizens for Change Party from the ballot.
However, a Cook County judge overruled the Franklin Park Electoral Board’s decision. Godlewski is appealing that decision.
On Feb. 24, the Cook County Clerk’s website listed the names appearing on the April ballot, which included all five Citizens for Change candidates.
“The judge found that the abundance of case law favored our position and accordingly reversed the [village] electoral board’s decision,” said Tiffany A. Nelson-Jaworski, the attorney for the five challenging candidates. “The judge further found that the candidates substantially complied with the election code.”
Godlewski is now going back to court to try and get those five names off the ballot again.
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“I’ve seen the paperwork, and the matter will be fully briefed by March 13. That’s the date when we are filing our response brief,” Nelson-Jaworski said. “Mr. Nally is expected to file his brief with the court on March 9. The court understands that this is a time-sensitive matter, and the good thing right now for us is that my clients are on the ballot.”
Attempts to reach Godlewski for comment were unsuccessful.
Alex V. Hernandez is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.