Petty Games Continue in Illinois

The petty games continue in Illinois.

Two Congressional candidates from the Green Party are now having to shield themselves from frivolous attempts by Democratic Party operatives to knock them off the ballot. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan can be linked to both cases.

The petition signatures filed by Dan Kairis, running for U.S. House district 14, have been challenged by Jean Cattron of Elgin, a Democratic Committeeman in Kane County.

Bill Scheurer, running for U.S. House District 8, has been challenged by Gregory Ferritto. Cattron is represented by Michael Kasper, the General Counsel and Treasurer of the Illinois Democratic Party and former aide to Madigan. Scheurer is represented by another Democratic Party functionary, Michael Kreloff.

Both Cattron and Ferritto have a history of working for Madigan to attempt to knock candidates off the ballots. Kasper and Kreloff, meanwhile, were the attorneys who led the objections against Green Party candidate for Governor Rich Whitney in 2006, and several third party and independent candidates in 2004, including Ralph Nader for President.

Last week, Free & Equal Founder and Chief Executive Christina Tobin was quoted in the Daily Herald about the challenge to Kairis, “This is literally an objection in bad faith,” she said. “The voters deserve voices and choices. There’s no limit to how far these (party) leaders will go to ensure voice and choice stays off the ballot.”

Get the full story on the challenges to Kairis and Scheurer at Free & Equal, Inc.
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