The Rush To Be Included On The February Ballot Enters Final Moments

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 24, 2014 10:45PM

Supporters for an elected school board pose with petitions signed by residents in 38 of Chicago's 50 wards. (Photo credit: John Kugler/Facebook)

Today is the last day candidates for mayor or aldermanic offices have to turn in petitions in order to be included on the ballot for the February election. Mayor Rahm Emanuel already ensured his spot on the ballot when filing opened last Monday, turning in 43,000 signatures and enlisting the services of Mike Kasper, a longtime attorney for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, as his election attorney. Emanuel, as he did in 2011, utilized paid-petition passers to gather the signatures.

Emanuel's primary opponents in the mayoral race filed their petitions Monday. Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) submitted over 55,000 signatures while Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia submitted over 60,000 signatures. Candidates for mayor need to collect 12,500 signatures to be included on the ballot but they often get more to fend off any challenges from opponents.

Proponents of an elected school board also filed petitions to have a the question posed to voters as a referendum on the ballot. However, the question will only appear on ballots in 38 wards as a group of aldermen blocked the most recent attempt to have the question posed on ballots citywide during last month's meeting of the City Council Rules Committee.

Here is a list of candidates who have filed petitions as of 2:30 p.m.