Monday morning began the official races for city elections as candidates, or their representatives, lined up outside the Chicago Board of Elections office to turn in nomination ballots on the first available day.
Running in the 2nd ward are incumbent Ald. Bob Fioretti and Genita Robinson, both filed at 9 a.m. and remain the only candidates in the 2nd Ward to do so by press deadline Wednesday morning.
The race for the 2nd Ward changed earlier this month when Fioretti canceled his foray into the race to succeed Mayor Richard Daley after his retirement next May. Fioretti dropped out of the chase for higher office after being diagnosed with throat cancer. Fioretti begins weeks of treatment later this month.
As the only two to file so far, Fioretti and Robinson are both lawyers in a possible field that previously included a cab driver, a professor, a LGBT activist and a stay-at-home dad. That field has until Monday, Nov. 22 to file petitions in support of their candidacy.
With the petitions turned in, much has been made about the need for accuracy in signatures gathered for the petitions. Challenges are expected and due in writing by close of business on Nov. 30.
Jim Allen, spokesperson for the Board of Chicago Elections, said, that the department checks candidate petitions for a spot on the ballot for basics of conformity. Information in petitions, such as approximation of signature numbers and the statement of candidacy, interest the board of elections.
Any challenge to a candidates exact numbers of signatures collected or the legitimacy of any one or all of the signatures must come from the people registered to vote in the ward, Allen said. Regarding ward races, anyone registered to vote in a ward can file an objection, Allen said. In the case of signature objections that voter must list the flaws, he said.
Robinson has a background in city and state politics including a founding member of the neighborhood organization that became South Loop Neighbors. Running on a platform that includes education, Robinsons work for Chicago Public Schools included director of the Charter Schools Office and then as director of Special Projects in the Office of the Chief Executive Officer.
Fioretti has served as 2nd ward alderman since winning the seat in 2007. This week he joined Ald. Walter Burnett in championing the Sweet Home Chicago ordinance out of a sub committee and into a full vote by city council.
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Originally reported by Chicago Journal. Read the original story here.