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Judd Lofchie, Richard Irvin, Isaac “Count De Money” Wilson, KEVIN MATTHEWS

All challenges in Aurora aldermanic races dropped

By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com Jan 19, 2011 10:20PM

GENEVA — The candidates weren’t due in court until next week, but on Wednesdaymorning, all pending challenges to the election paperwork in two Aurora City Council

races were dropped.

Because of a state election law that changed in July — unbeknownst to the Aurora

Election Commission, the candidates and other objectors — those contesting election petitions in the city’s aldermanic races had only five days to file in court, instead of the10-day period that previously was allowed.

Because the objectors filed in Kane County Court after the five-day limit, alderman-at-large candidates Judd Lofchie and incumbent Richard Irvin, and 6th Ward candidate

Isaac Count De Money Wilson will stay on the April 5 election ballot.

Lofchie said he and local activist Peggy Hicks’ lawyer John Duggan agreed to dismisstheir challenges and go ahead with the election.

With the challenges over, “we can focus on the issues,” Lofchie said.

Keith Letsche, the attorney acting on behalf of the Aurora Election Commission, said that

while an error may have occurred, it is ultimately the objector’s responsibility to beaware of the new law. Election Commission Director Linda Fechner confirmed it is the

objector’s responsibility.

8/8/2019 Back Matt Rapid Reply All Challenges in Aurora's Aldernanic Races Dropped

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In December, the Election Commission overruled objections filed against the election

 petitions of Irvin, Lofchie and Wilson, and said their names should stay on the April 5

 ballot. The objectors then all filed challenges in Kane County Court to the ElectionCommission’s ruling.

Hicks had filed the objections to Lofchie’s petitions, and Lofchie challenged Irvin’s.Wilson’s petitions were challenged by 6th Ward incumbent Alderman Mike Saville.

Saville said that the law change made it obvious that the court challenge couldn’t moveforward, although he felt he had a strong case.

“We are disappointed because my attorney (also Duggan) felt that petitions of Mr.

Wilson were not filled out correctly,” Saville said.

Wilson said he’s ready to move forward and was glad that the challenges were dropped.

“I’m happy that the people of Ward 6 get to decide who the alderman is versus the

courts,” Wilson said.

In the alderman at large race, Irvin and Lofchie will square off against businessconsultant Kevin Mathews and write-in candidate Matt Harrington.