José A. Guzmán, Candidate For Alderman Officially On The Ballot For The Waukegan 2nd Ward Aldermanic Primary Election

Aldermanic candidate Guzmán was targeted for elimination from the Tuesday, February 26, 2019 Primary Election ballot simply because of an allegation that he failed to secure his candidacy nomination papers with a paper clip to prevent any tampering.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 26, 2019

Waukegan, Illinois - The Illinois Supreme Court granted José A. Guzmán (Dem.), a stay after he filed for the court to rule against an appellate court ruling on Friday that prevented him from being placed on the ballot legally for failure to secure his nomination papers with a mere paper clip in his filing as a candidate for the 2nd Ward Aldermanic race in Waukegan. 

Guzmán sued the Municipal Officers Electoral Board of the City of Waukegan, Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham, Chairman, Larry Tenpas and Janet Kilkelly, as Members of the Municipal Officers Electoral Board and Janet Kilkelly, as City Clerk in Waukegan.

In the lawsuit, Guzmán claims that he placed a paper clip to secure his nomination papers and several photos were introduced showing that a paper clip was under the nomination papers. The argument for the City Election Board was that they couldn't determine, if the paper clip was removed by a clerk and then the papers filed without the paper clip placed to secure the papers.

Guzmán is officially on the ballot and votes cast for him will count, according to the Illinois Supreme Court ruling. Guzmán is challenging the Democratic Incumbent, Alderman Patrick D. Seger for the nomination. If Guzmán would have been kept from the ballot, Seger would have been nominated for a second term as a Democrat.

The winner in 2nd Ward Aldermanic Primary Election race will face the Independent candidate, Sylvia Giles on the April 2, 2019 General Election.