McHenry County Blog

Scott Summers, Green Party candidate for the 16th congressional district, is expecting to be removed from the primary ballot when the State Board of Elections acts on hearing officer Robert Bell’s recommendation at its next meeting. The report will be filed with the State Board Monday.

A contributor of Democratic Party congressional hopeful Robert Abboud challenged Summers’ petition signatures and, apparently, the petitions did not end up with enough good signatures.

Barrington Hills Village President Abboud is obviously hoping a Green Party candidate will not be on the ballot. He rightly assumes that Summers would siphon votes off from him in his attempt to topple Republican Congressman Don Manzullo.

But, there is an option the first time candidate may not have taken into account.

If there is not primary winner on the Green Party ballot for any office, the area’s Green Party precinct committeemen can appoint candidates.

In McHenry County, there are two Green Party candidates for precinct committeeman—Summers and McHenry County Board candidate Frank Wedig, who lives in Woodstock.

If they caucus and elect officers, they can join with Green Party central committees from other counties in the 16th congressional district and nominate a candidate to appear on the fall ballot.

This can be done even if there are no others running for precinct committeeman on the Green Party ticket anywhere in the 16th congressional district, a State Board of Elections Attorney said Friday.

When contacted, Summers provided the following statement:

“Efforts to remove me from the February primary ballot serve to strengthen my resolve.

”At the committee meetings early next March, I will ask the Green Party committeemen of Boone, McHenry, and Winnebago Counties to appoint me to the vacancy in nomination for Congress. If so designated, I will indeed be on the ballot for the November 2008 general election.”

So, it appears all the petition challenge by Abboud’s campaign contributor will accomplish is to get Summers more publicity than he otherwise would have received.

Labels: 16th Congressional District, Don Manzullo, Robert Abboud, Scott Summers