Illinois State Board of Elections hearing officers are recommending that independent 4th Congressional District candidates Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macías be knocked off the November ballot for failing to submit the minimum number of valid signatures on petitions — a claim both candidates are blaming squarely on Democratic machine politics.
An official decision will be made Tuesday when the full Illinois State Board of Elections meets to issue a ruling, and the board is free to diverge from the recommendation. But hearing officer Joseph A. Craven wrote in a document posted on Thursday that Macías was just 486 signatures short of the 10,816 minimum requirement to run as an independent candidate. He wrote that she “cannot rehabilitate enough signatures.”
Barbara Goodman, another hearing officer, wrote that Sigcho-Lopez also should not appear on the November ballot and that he fell short of the signatures needed.
Goodman noted Sigcho-Lopez’s attorney Andrew Finko raised constitutional arguments and “concerns regarding what he characterized as oppressive government conduct.”
But Goodman wrote, “while the issues raised are not insignificant, they are not properly before this Electoral Board and therefore cannot be addressed in this proceeding.” She also said that Sigcho-Lopez argued the requirements for independent candidates were disproportionately high — with not enough time to gather signatures. Goodman wrote that “it is the legislature that must address these issues…”
Both candidates say they were inspired to run as independents when U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” García made a last-minute decision to drop out of the race and help his chief of staff, Patty García, who is not related to the congressman, win the primary. Lyons Mayor Chris Getty is also running as an independent candidate, and his petitions were not challenged.
Sigcho-Lopez called the recommendation “a move in their [Patty García and Rep. García’s] game against the voters.”
In the face of challenges to their candidacies, Sigcho-Lopez and Macias teamed up to rail on the state’s process for independent candidates, which they say is set up to help established Democrats stay in power. Sigcho-Lopez said he’s willing to take the legal battle to the Illinois Supreme Court to try to give independent candidates a fair chance.
“We have over 30,000 petitions, while the Democratic and Republican nominee barely had over 1,000 petitions between them,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “So for them to challenge this on the number of signatures is shameful and hypocritical, and we’re going to continue to fight it. And we’re going to take it all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court if we have to.”
Both Sigcho-Lopez and Macías told the Chicago Sun-Times about the challenge of revisiting homes to have voters sign affidavits that proved their signatures — at a time when many communities within the district are reeling from “Operation Midway Blitz” and continued ICE presence in Chicago communities.
“People are afraid to sign affidavits. People are afraid to even open the door. People are afraid to even be on the street,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “It’s worse to sign a legal document — especially from Democratic representatives who should know better about how much fear is in our community.”
Macías’ campaign detailed three difficult instances of having to return to a home to get signers to sign an affidavit, including a woman who was gassed during “Operation Midway Blitz” in Brighton Park. Alicia Cintora, a scientist who lives in Little Village, said this marked the first time her signatures was challenged. Cintora filmed a video with Macías about her signature being challenged.
“I signed in good faith, and I’m really kind of mad that this was even questioned,” Cintora says in the video.
Macías told the Sun-Times in early July that she was expecting a challenge from Patty Garcia’s camp — and she called it “disgusting” for two Latino candidates to be kicked off the ballot.
“It has been clear from the onset that neither Patty or Rep. García want to see voters have a say in who represents them, and they are willing to litigate this behind closed doors rather than let the voters decide at the ballot box. And it is no coincidence that they’re targeting myself and Byron, both Latino candidates,” Macías said. “It is honestly disgusting to see that in the most Latino district in the state, our leader, who has built his career saying he is uplifting and fighting for the Latino community, is actively trying to kick off Latino candidates.”
Patty García, the only Democrat on the ballot, has picked up the support of established Democrats and labor unions. On Thursday her campaign reported raising $80,000 in the latest fundraising quarter, bringing the total contributions she has raised to more than $350,000.