ELECTION SHENANIGANS START EARLY IN CHICAGO

On August 9, 2006, Chicago Board of Elections (CBOE) denied ballot access to Kathleen J. Cummings, Green Party candidate for Illinois State Representative in District 4. The district includes Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, and Ukrainian Village in Chicago.

The objector to the petitions, Guadalupe Miranda, was represented by Michael Kasper, Illinois Democrat Party treasurer. Miranda is secretary to the District 4 Democrat incumbent. Kasper also represents two objectors to the Green Party state slate petitions for the November 7, 2006, election.

Cummings is represented by Andrew B. Spiegel. Spiegel claimed it was unconstitutional to require 1,531 signatures based on a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2000. Spiegel stated the figure should be 1,108 based on 5% of the number of votes the incumbent got in the 2004 election. The 1,531 required signatures is based on 5% of the number of people in District 4 who voted for president. “Flynn and the CBOE refused to accept additional affidavits proving Cummings had more than enough signatures whether the required number was 1,108 or 1,531 signatures,” Spiegel emphasized.

Out of 43,275 registered voters in the district, 3,494 people signed Cummings’ petition to get her on the ballot, more than twice the required number. Of the submitted signatures, the Democrats challenged 2,440.

Since June 26, 2006 (date signatures were submitted to Illinois Board of Election), there were two days of binder check/records examinations, and many evenings/weekends spent locating petition signers for their affidavits. There were five appearances before Terence Flynn, CBOE hearing officer, (brother of a Democratic Illinois State Representative), and one final meeting for the CBOE decision.

Cummings said, “Refusing to accept our additional affidavits is a Democratic tactic used to disenfranchise the nearly 3,500 voters who said they want choice in November. Without opposition, the incumbent wants to win by default!” To reverse this CBOE decision, Cummings will go to court and look for financial support.

Walter Esler, Campaign Mgr. 773-637-6701

Kathleen J. Cummings
www.kathleenjcummings.com
773-276-3776