Story posted Friday, January 29, 2010
Atanus Won't Run As Write-In For 9th District
Susanne Atanus effectively ended her Republican primary candidacy for U.S. Rep. 9th Dist. this week by failing to file as a write-in candidate before the deadline on Tuesday, Jan. 26
With her appeal of a Cook County Circuit Court decision to remove her from the ballot still not scheduled, according to the Illinois Appellate Court website, there will be no way to vote for her during Tuesday's primary. But the one-time candidate contended that she still has a shot at winning the Republican nod.
"I am one of two names on the Republican ballot for U.S. Congress and I hope to win the election," she said before hanging up the phone.
While technically true---her name appears on the ballot because the Circuit Court decision to remove her came after early voting began and ballots were printed---any votes for Atanus will not be counted. Advisories have been posted at polling places to notify voters.
Atanus's only hope is for the Illinois Appellate Court to hear her case prior to the primary. Atanus requested an expedited hearing, however, oral arguments were not yet scheduled as of Wednesday.
Ira Kahn, of Skokie, filed an objection to the Des Plaines resident's candidacy in November. He argued that 50 pages of her nominating petition were not uniform, as required, and that all the signatures from those pages should be discounted, leaving her with less than the 346 minimum signatures needed to run for office.
The Circuit Court's decision overturned an earlier ruling by the Cook County Electoral Board to keep Atanus on the ballot.
The decision leaves Atanus's opponent, Joel Pollak, unopposed in the primary.
Pollak will square off in the November election against incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky and the winner of the Green Party primary, either Simon Ribeiro or Morris Shanfield.
The 9th District covers Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Niles, Glenview, Rosemont, Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Norridge, Wilmette, Northfield, and Golf along with much of Chicago's North Side.
The following people have filed as write-in candidates: Democrat Jonathan Farnick for U.S. Rep. 8th Dist.; Republicans Ray Wardingley for U.S. Rept. 1st Dist., Kurt Kojzarek for State Senator 22nd Dist., Jeffrey Meyer for State Senator 22nd Dist., Phil Collins for State Rep. 17th Dist.; and Green Party candidate Phil Huckelberry for U.S. Rep. 10th Dist.
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