Races emerge on last day of election filing

WAUKEGAN -- Three aldermen will have an open road to another term on the City Council, but Monday's filing deadline for the 2007 municipal elections revealed the other six have drawn opponents for either the primary or the general election.

Running unopposed on Feb. 27 -- unless a write-in candidacy fills the void -- will be incumbent Democrats A.J. "Tony" Figueroa (4th Ward) and Rafael Rivera (9th), as well as Republican Edith Newsome (5th).

Otherwise, the election season in Waukegan now shapes up like this:

• 1st Ward: Incumbent Democrat Sam Cunningham will have a primary opponent in Evie G. Hakeem, a former Waukegan police officer making her first run for political office.

• 2nd Ward: Incumbent Democrat John Balen will be opposed in the primary by Joyce Cabell.

• 3rd Ward: Incumbent Democrat Gregory Moisio will be opposed in the primary by Dexter G. Reid, who ran for 5th Ward alderman in 2003 and lost to Newsome by 34 votes.

• 6th Ward: As reported last week, incumbent Larry TenPas, a lifelong Republican, filed as a Democrat and will face off in the primary against Keith Turner. Joining them on the Democratic side will be political newcomer Germain Castellanos, while Republican Mark Kajfez will face the winner on April 17.

• 7th Ward: Incumbent Republican Patrick Needham will face Democrat John T. "Jack" Haines in April.

• 8th Ward: Incumbent Democrat Rick Larsen will be opposed in the primary by Steven Carlson, making his first run for public office, and the winner will face Mari Carlson, a former Warren High School Board of Education president. A city official said it is believed the two Carlsons are related.

Candidates have until the day after Christmas to file any objects to the nominating petitions of their opponents. Municipalities then have until Dec. 28 to certify candidates and contested offices with the County Clerk's office.

In Waukegan, three aldermanic candidates were kicked off the ballot in January 2003 after their petitions were successfully challenged by opponents.

Margaret Carrasco (3rd Ward), Kathy Reid and Rosie Udo (9th) were all removed by the Waukegan Electoral Board -- which consists of the mayor, the city clerk and the senior alderman -- for such things as printed signatures and signatures from residents not in their ward.

Also on Dec. 28, write-in candidates may file for a candidacy to force a primary election in any race that is uncontested. For voters, the last day to register to vote in the primary is Jan. 30.

Campaign 2007